Ice, Snow Left On Vehicles Causing Havoc For Drivers

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Maryland State Police is warning drivers to clean the snow off the top of their cars because it could cause serious crashes on the highways.

Police say the thick ice on top of vehicles could become dangerous projectiles as they're driving down the road.

Snow and ice can become caked onto roofs, hoods, and even the back of cars, but one sharp turn, and there it goes.

Wednesday State Police said there were multiple incidents where the dangerous mix of snow and ice flew off of one person's car and smashed someone else's windshield.

In at least three cases, drivers were injured when glass flew straight into their eyes.

"It's very scary," said driver Samantha Kennedy. "I saw someone with just the full sheet of snow and ice kind of just slip right off the back of the car into the windshield."

WJZ's Ava-joye Burnett spoke with one driver who still had snow on her car.

[Reporter: "Is that something you thought about?"] "Yes, it is now that you mention it, and I am sorry that I didn't clear it off before. I usually do do that."

No matter how rock solid it is, you've got to find a way to clean snow and ice off before you drive out. State Police officials say this could be classified as an unattended load. If it flies off and hits someone, you could be fined.

"We have ice left over, which ends up becoming what really is a flying missile in a lot of cases," said Elena Russo, with Maryland State Police. "And I think everybody has seen it on the Beltway at some point. A piece of ice flies off and you can tell, it looks dangerous."

And at highway speeds, police say there could also be catastrophic crashes if drivers swerve to dodge flying ice.

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