Multi-Car Cedar Park Wreck Closes Street, Toll Roads Treacherous

CEDAR PARK, TX — Police have said a traffic accident Tuesday afternoon involving several vehicles is being blamed on icy road conditions that's prompted a road closure and a warning to avoid certain arteries.

The wreck occurred along 1431 Farm to Market Road near Vista Ridge, according to police. Law enforcement officials said other similar crashes have been reported in the Leander area. Moreover, police earlier urged drivers to avoid toll roads before a de-icing agent was applied.

"Drive slow and smart please!" police pleaded with the public. Officials noted the road has been closed to accommodate the resulting investigation and work crews. Police didn't indicate whether any injuries resulted from the Cedar Park crash.

The temperature in the Austin area hovered at around 30 degrees Tuesday afternoon after having dipped to the mid to low 20s over the weekend, making for hazardous road conditions. In Austin, the temperature reading was 28 degrees by early evening.

Those conditions created ice on area roadways, including another one at the 183A toll road. After first urging motorists to avoid toll roads altogether while diverting traffic from such roads, Cedar Park Police officials later said 183A toll road had been treated to mitigate ice buildup but still urged drivers to proceed with caution.

Related story: Icy Road Conditions In Austin Spark Accidents, Road Closures

As such frigid temperatures continue, motorists are urged to slow down and keep a safe distance with the vehicle in front of them. The advice is particularly aimed of Texas motorists unaccustomed to driving on icy roads in a state with more temperate weather year-round.

The incident in Cedar Park is hardly isolated case amid the wintry backdrop. Medics at Austin-Travis EMS have responded to numerous vehicle collisions throughout Travis County, four of which were rollover accidents. Most of the incidents have occurred west of MoPac Expressway (Texas State Highway Loop 1), including a serious incident wreck involving a possible fatality on Highway 71 and Spanish Oak Drive, according to medics.

There's a handy interactive map at the "Drive Texas" website operated by TxDot allowing users to check on closed roadways. This could prove a useful portal for motorists in plotting out alternative driving routes. To visit the site, click here. For real-time traffic updates, visit drivetexas.org.

There's good news on the horizon: After a frigid start on Wednesday, a warming trend is expected to form that will bring temperatures into the 50s. Until then, officials urge residents to drive safely and, better yet, stay indoors if you're able to do so.