Heavy fog, ice foils morning commute

Heavy fog and ice caused a series of accidents Friday morning that prompted closure of the Carson City Freeway for 90 minutes.

The first accident happened at 4:59 a.m. north of the Arrowhead Drive offramp. Just after 5 a.m. ice on the bridge over College Parkway contributed to a three-car accident in the northbound lanes , said Sgt. Jim Primka. As officers were on scene of that wreck, they heard - but were unable to see because of the heavy fog - a fifth accident about 200 yards south, he said.

"You literally couldn't see," said Primka. "Visibility was about 30 feet, plus when you're driving 70 miles per hour on slick roads it doesn't give you a whole lot of breaking distance."

Officials closed the highway from 6 to about 7:30 a.m.

"Clear nights, high humidity, light winds - that's usually the recipe for some fog," said Rudy Cruz, National Weather Service specialist.

Cruz said the weekend will see highs in the mid-70s with lows in the mid-30 and 40s.

More wet weather is expected mid-week with temperatures cooling into the mid-40s Thursday.