January Storms Scattered Big Rigs Across the Midwest

David W. Craig | January 14, 2025 | After the Crash

Indiana froze during the first weekend of January as up to 13 inches of snow blanketed the state. Plows couldn’t keep up, clearing roads just to clear them again within the hour.

Other states felt the storm: Roads in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and other Midwestern states became slick, and cars and semis skewed across the highway as their drivers lost control.

In the wake of what some folks are calling “the heaviest snowfall in a decade,” Midwesterners should remember a few things to prepare for future winter weather.

Why Heavy Trucks and Icy Roads Are a Dangerous Combination

If large trucks, like semis, are dangerous in good weather, they’re even worse on ice and snow.

Having handled semi, flatbed, dump truck and other heavy truck and commercial motor vehicle accidents for over 35 years, I have represented many people who have been in tragic snow and winter weather wrecks. The most frequent cause of these accidents is speed. Semis are hard to stop on dry pavement and even harder to stop on snow and ice.

As a truck wreck attorney, I have seen countless wrecks caused by truckers who failed to properly winterize their semis or ignored the regulations for driving in adverse weather.

For example, in one case, a trucker used the wrong kind of grease — grease intended for warm temperatures, not winter weather — on the fifth wheel. This caused the semi tractor to become disconnected from the trailer, causing a wreck with horrible injury to our client.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, which regulates commercial vehicles, and the Commercial Driver’s License Manual have specific guidelines for large trucks in adverse weather, such as:

Truckers are required to use extreme caution when faced with hazardous conditions.
Truckers must reduce their speed by one-third on wet roads.
Truckers must reduce their speed by half or more on packed snow.
The jake brake should not be used on slippery or wet roads.
Truckers must pull over and stop entirely if possible when the roads are icy.

Unfortunately, year after year I have seen many instances where truckers have ignored these rules. They continue to drive too fast for the road conditions, which endangers us all.

In 2022, commercial motor vehicles were involved in 12,264 wrecks wherein adverse weather (sleet, snow, or ice) was a factor. Many of these resulted in property damage or injury, but 114 were fatal.

Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database reveals the danger of 18-wheelers and other heavy trucks in winter weather. In normal weather conditions — when there is no fog, rain, snow, etc. — large trucks are involved in 13% of fatal motor vehicle crashes. However, deadly wrecks that occur in snowy or icy weather see a commercial-vehicle involvement rate of 23%.

When truck drivers ignore weather warnings or operate their vehicles recklessly on ice and snow, tragedy can occur. It is imperative that commercial vehicle drivers use extreme caution and prepare their vehicles for adverse weather.

Semi-Truck Wrecks Surge Across the Midwest This January

The early days of January 2025 brought intense snowstorms across the United States. As of January 6, Indianapolis had received about 8 inches of snow. St. Louis reported similar totals, while some other Missouri cities reached nearly 13 inches of snowfall.

Unfortunately, many cars and trucks were on the road when the storms hit. Several instances of semi-trucks spinning out of control, jackknifing and causing collisions were reported, some resulting in death.

In Illinois, a chaotic wreck left 38 vehicles damaged and both directions of I-70 blocked. Drivers in Ohio also faced lane blockages on the state’s highways, with countless reports of disabled, jackknifed or wrecked semi tractor-trailers.

Kentucky’s governor reported that State Police responded to 170 accidents during the snowstorm. Despite official warnings against travel, commercial vehicles continued along Midwestern interstates.

Snow, Sleet, and Ice: Winter Hazards for Midwest Drivers

In 2022, the following weather conditions played a role in nearly 500 fatal wrecks:

Sleet
Freezing rain
Snow

Frozen precipitation, whether in the form of snow, sleet or rain, makes travel difficult. It eliminates visibility, obstructing drivers’ views. It also makes roads slick.

Even if the roads look clear, they may not be. Black ice often blends in with the road, and unsuspecting drivers may feel their vehicles skidding across the pavement when they hit a patch. Watch out for black ice under or on top of bridges and overpasses, or in any shaded area.

Preparation for driving in winter weather begins before you even leave your house. Make sure your windshield, side and rear windows are cleared of any snow or ice. It is better to leave your house a few minutes later than to risk an accident caused by lack of visibility.

Beware of Black Ice: The Hidden Danger on Winter Roads

Last year, Indiana temperatures in January averaged 36 degrees during the day and dipped into lower 30s and 20s at night. When combined with precipitation, these conditions are perfect for the formation of black ice.

Black ice is thin, clear ice that coats areas of the road and is a major roadway risk during winter. Car accidents on icy or snowy roads injure more than 135,000 people each year and kill 2,000. Many of these involve black ice.

This condition may be especially prevalent this winter, since Indiana is expected to face more precipitation than usual.

During the daytime, when temperatures are warmer, snow on the ground melts. Then, if temperatures drop below freezing at night, wet roads become slick with black ice. Roads covered in black ice may look wet or completely normal.

When driving at night in these next few months, stay vigilant. If you know roads are slick, avoid driving. If you must drive, stay below the speed limit, maintain a large following distance behind other vehicles and avoid using cruise control.

Look at your mirrors. If you see icicles or frozen drops on the bottom of your mirrors, there is a good chance there is black ice in the roadway.

Sometimes, you won’t be able to avoid black ice. If you hit a patch, the key is to stay calm. Panicking often causes people to slam on the brakes or jerk the steering wheel, both of which can send your vehicle skidding across the road.

By keeping your car steering straight and easing off the accelerator, you should be able to move past the patch of black ice and continue on your way.

Common Winter-Weather Accidents Involving Trucks and Cars

Rear-end collisions commonly occur in winter when a car brakes suddenly and the car behind it skids while attempting to slow down. Head-on collisions can also occur from sliding on ice into another lane.

When you’re driving on ice or snow, avoid a serious spin-out wreck by slowly turning your wheel in the direction of the skid if your car starts to lose control.

A 2023 article reported that 36% of all winter driving deaths occurred in five states: Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Illinois. This study also stated that Midwestern drivers are some of the worst at driving on snow and ice. In fact, Indiana saw more fatal car accidents on icy roads than any other state in the 2008-2009 winter.

Midwest Winter Forecast: Will There Be More Snow and Ice?

The U.S. is experiencing La Niña — a climate pattern that influences temperature and precipitation — this winter. For the northern half of the country, La Niña causes above-average precipitation. It is likely that Indiana, Missouri and other states will continue to see snow through the end of winter.

Essential Vehicle Maintenance Tips for Winter Safety

Winter roadway safety begins before you even leave home. There are ways you can prepare to prevent emergencies and handle them if they occur.

Preparation is essential.

Stock your car with an ice scraper and emergency flashers or flares. Polarized sunglasses, gloves, bottled water and jumper cables can also be helpful.
Check your tires. If the tread is low, you’ll need new ones before winter weather hits. Make sure the pressure is right, as under- or over-inflated tires are dangerous.
Test your car’s battery. Cold weather will slow its recharge rate, and no one wants to be stuck with a vehicle that won’t start.
Go ahead and get an oil change before snow starts falling. While you’re there, make sure your windshield wiper fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, and transmission fluid are all ready to go.

With precipitation on the radar, don’t cut corners before driving. Make sure your front and rear windshields and driver and passenger windows are cleared of any ice, snow or fog. In the car, make sure everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt. Accelerate, turn and brake slowly. As you drive, you’ll get a feel for the road conditions.

Remember, you must be a defensive driver. Commercial vehicle drivers may speed, swerve or follow too closely behind you. Give semis plenty of room. Your caution can help protect you and others.

Involved in a Semi Wreck? Find an Experienced Attorney Today

Commercial vehicle wrecks can be catastrophic. Afterward, victims may face the loss of a loved one, thousands of dollars in medical bills, inability to work, and other great stressors. Though everything may seem overwhelming, they must find a qualified truck-wreck attorney as soon as possible.

Attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless represent clients in Indianapolis and St. Louis. We also take heavy-truck-wreck cases across Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, and Tennessee.

David W. Craig is a nationally recognized truck accident lawyer who sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. He was the recipient of the National Thurgood Marshall “Fighting for Justice” Award for his work helping victims of truck wrecks. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.

Big Rigs Scattered Across the Midwest in January Storms