With ice accumulations expected this weekend, the Columbia Police Department is adjusting officer response to vehicle collisions. When the ice arrives, officers will not respond to vehicle collisions where:
- there are no injuries to parties involved,
- the vehicles involved are not blocking the road.
If you are in a collision that is blocking the road and it is safe to do so, please move the vehicle off the roadway and find alternate transportation. Please do not call Boone County Joint Communications if you observe a vehicle off the roadway that has been marked with yellow police tape. It's imperative the phone lines are accessible for emergencies. Parties involved in a collision with injuries and/or a vehicle blocking the roadway that can't be moved should call 9-1-1 to dispatch an officer and other emergency services.
On December 16th, Columbia experienced icy road conditions that led to over 100 vehicle collisions throughout the city. Joint Communications was flooded with high call volumes for non-injury and non-blocking collisions. This tied up phone lines for emergencies and led to higher priority calls experiencing longer wait times to be dispatched to an officer. The Missouri Department of Transportation issued a Winter Weather Advisory starting tonight through Sunday. It is advised that citizens avoid travel altogether during this time due to the icy road conditions.
Columbia Public Works will continue to post updates and alerts on Columbia road conditions at www.comosnow.com.