20 Vehicles Involved in Crash Near Beltway

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. - Icy roads are causing crashes across the region, including one involving about 20 vehicles on the sky ramp carrying Maryland Route 210 over the Capital Beltway.

Prince George's County Fire and Rescue officials say it happened about 3:15 p.m. as the overpass just east of the Wilson Bridge glazed over with ice. Spokesman Mark Brady says two people were taken to trauma centers, but their injuries aren't considered life threatening.

Authorities across the D.C. area are reporting numerous accidents, especially along the I-270 corridor in Montgomery County.

Many icy ramps and overpasses are closed across the region.

Much of the Washington area is under a winter weather advisory until 7 a.m. Wednesday. Click here for the details.

WTOP Traffic Reporter Bob Marbourg advises drivers to think twice before venturing home from work.

"All across the region, drivers dealing with the same situation and that is slippery bridge decks, slippery ramps, slippery under-passes and maybe even slippery sidewalks and parking lots.

"If you are still in the office, you may be safer just staying when you are."

The freezing rain started falling around 3:45 p.m. and Maryland State Highway Administration spokesman David Buck says within 15 minutes elevated surfaces, such as bridges and ramps, got icy, spawning crashes.

Buck says the trouble was concentrated on highways in Anne Arundel, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

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