Snowy Roads Cause Wrecks Around Panhandle

AMARILLO -- There were 42 wrecks in Amarillo as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to Amarillo Police.

And as the snow kept falling throughout the day, the phone kept on ringing at T Miller Wrecker Service.

"The guys running, just constant," Jeni Ferril, Manager of T Miller Wrecker Service said.

And the slick roads meant longer wait times for many. Accoridng to Ferril, drivers could be stranded for upwards of two to three hours.

"We' re required to get to county wrecks and PD wrecks within a certain amount of time, and of course with the weather slowing us down. You know that makes it harder for us to do, so unfortunately the ones going to just the repair facilites, they do get bumped down," Ferril said.

Some of that waiting caused traffic throughout the city as accident blocked off roadways.

"That's part of the bottleneck that we see. We have officers that are still going to stay out there until that wreck gets cleared, and you know, the wrecker drivers, they're extremely busy right now, not just inside the city but out in the county, " Cpl. Jerry Neufeld said. "You know they're pulling wreckers in all directions, so you know that can kind of slow us down a bit."

The roads cleared up significantly throughout the day, but be careful as the temperature drops overnight and things start to freeze over, particularly overpasses and entrance and exit ramps.

According to Cpl. Neufeld, the best thing you can do is allow for extra time to get around and drive slowly.

And remember, wrecker drivers are part of the 'Move Over' law in Texas, so treat them as you would law enforcement on the roadside.