Virginia State Police (VSP), in a release Sunday, notified motorists of numerous accidents throughout the region, and to take caution on icy roads, even if roadways look clear.

“Looks can be and are deceiving,” a release from VSP cited. “Highways may appear to be clear, but slick and icy conditions still exist.”

VSP is encouraging motorists are encouraged to delay travel in order for Virginia Department of Transportation crews to continue treating and clearing highways.

According to VSP, since 12 a.m. Sunday (Jan. 13), state troopers have responded to more than 230 traffic crashes and assisted 117 disabled/stuck motorists statewide between midnight and noon on Sunday. The majority of crashes have involved only damaged vehicles.

Note that the Appomattox District includes Charlotte County.

• Richmond Division: 89 traffic crashes & 21 disabled vehicles
• Culpeper Division: 22 traffic crashes & 15 disabled vehicles
• Appomattox Division: 16 traffic crashes & 6 disabled vehicles
• Wytheville Division: 7 traffic crashes & 2 disabled vehicles
• Chesapeake Division: 28 traffic crashes & 12 disabled vehicles
• Salem Division: 9 traffic crashes and 11 disabled vehicles
• Fairfax Division: 34 traffic crashes and 52 disabled vehicles

VSP has investigated three fatal crashes since Saturday night (Jan. 12):

• 1/12/19 – Pulaski County on Interstate 81 (1 fatality)
• 1/13/19 – Brunswick County on rural road (1 fatality – 16 yr old male passenger)
• 1/13/19 – City of Norfolk on Interstate 64 (1 fatality)

As of 12 p.m. Sunday, VSP troopers are on scene at 27 traffic crashes and nine disabled/stuck motorists:

Note that the Appomattox Division includes Charlotte County.

• Richmond Division: 5 traffic crashes & 1 disabled vehicles
• Culpeper Division: 4 traffic crashes & 2 disabled vehicles
• Appomattox Division: 7 traffic crashes & 2 disabled vehicles
• Wytheville Division: 1 traffic crash & 1 disabled vehicle
• Chesapeake Division: 5 traffic crashes & 0 disabled vehicles
• Salem Division: 1 traffic crash and 1 disabled vehicle
• Fairfax Division: 3 traffic crashes and 4 disabled vehicles

According to VSP, call 511 or go to www.511virginia.or for road conditions, not 911 or #77.

“We need to keep emergency lines open for emergency calls,” the release cited.

For those who must travel, VSP asks participants to take the following safety precautions:

• Clear off ALL snow and ice from your vehicle – windows, roof, trunk and lights…and use your headlights to make yourself more visible
• Add extra time to reach travel destination
• Slow speed for road conditions
• Increase driving distances between vehicles for increased stopping distance
• Buckle up and don’t drive distracted
• MOVE OVER for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway vehicles and tow trucks.