More schools close as crashes reported on icy roads

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DELAWARE (2/10/2015) Many schools are opening late this morning and some have decided to close for the day as ice on roadways makes for hazardous conditions.

Near Frederica, five vehicles — including a  trash truck, a pickup, an SUV and two cars — slid off Andrews Lake Road into a ditch on a curve near Route 12 about 6 a.m. but no injuries were reported.

State police say multiple other crashes have been reported across the state, and urge motorists to use extreme caution if they must venture out.

At 7:15 a.m., a fatal accident closed northbound U.S. 13 at Hamburg Road, just north of the Route 1 split.

DelDOT also reported Route 71 closed at 5:50 a.m. between Howell School Road and Summit Point Circle due to an accident.

Another crash about 8 a.m. closed Sandtown Road at Beagle Club Road west of Felton, DelDOT reported. A firetruck was reported on its side in a ditch along Sandtown Road.

In Sussex County, DelDOT reported the northbound Route 1 ramp to South Rehoboth Boulevard in Milford was closed at 5:30 a.m., with traffic diverted to the Route 36 exit.

Appoquinimink,  Caesar Rodney, Capital, Lake Forest, Laurel, Milford, Seaford, Smyrna,. Sussex Tech and Woodbridge school districts initially delayed their openings but then decided to close for the day.

The New Castle County Vo-Tech districts is opening two hours late.

Latest updates on school closings, delays

Delmarva Power reported 29 customers lost electric service in the Lums Pond area. And the Delaware Electric Cooperative had three customers out west of Felton due to a vehicle accident knocking a line off its insulator.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory until 10 a.m., with freezing rain, sleet, rain and snow expected.