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Austin police, fire working multiple overnight crashes due to winter weather

Drivers are advised to stay in their vehicles if involved in a collision on ice. The safest place is in your vehicle until first responders arrive.

AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has been working multiple vehicle collisions across the city as a result of the weather.

According to APD Watch Command, APD is currently working on seven collisions across the city. The majority of the collisions have occurred on U.S. Highway 183 due to the overpasses accumulating ice overnight. 

What officers have seen is vehicles are either colliding into one another or into the guardrails along the sides of the roads – cars are "slipping and sliding" as the tires try to grip to the road.

Some of these collisions have resulted in injuries, but it is unknown to what extent at this time. 

Drivers are advised to stay in their vehicles if involved in a collision on ice. The safest place is in your vehicle until first responders arrive.

APD is requesting the Texas Department of Transportation to treat the roads as soon after a collision to allow the ice accumulations to decrease. 

The Austin Fire Department (AFD) has also reported that as of 4:37 a.m., crews are on the scene of six traffic collisions related to icing.

"There have been 19 traffic accident responses since midnight," the tweet from AFD read. 

AFD also stated that the areas with significant issues with icing are Interstate 35 and State Highway 45's flyover in southwest Austin. Multiple vehicles are reporting that they are stuck on the flyovers due to the ice accumulations. 

At 6:25 a.m., AFD sent out another tweet stating that "collisions have tripled since last report. Now seeing multiple car pile ups with significant injuries and fatality."

As of 6:47 a.m., there is a 10 vehicle back-up on the South First Street ramp at Ben White Boulevard. Details are very limited, according to AFD, but there has been one person pronounced dead at the scene. 

This is an developing story. Check back for updates.

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