Icy roads slipping up drivers

Black ice from overnight rain and cold morning temperatures is triggering multiple crashes in the Spokane area this morning. Several accidents were reported in the West Plains area along U.S. Highway 2 and Interstate 90. A spinout on the Monroe Street Bridge involved five vehicles before dawn. Another accident at 7:45 a.m. was blocking U.S. 2 northeast of Spokane in the Camelot subdivision area. A state trooper radioed for a sand truck because it was so icy it was difficult to stand up. Still another blocking accident occurred at Maple Street and Francis Avenue. Those were among numerous accidents in the urban area and its fringes. Icy conditions on the roads appear to be spotty, which may be one reason drivers are being caught by surprise. The dawn temperature at Spokane International Airport was 33.