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Slick, slushy roads made for tough traveling conditions across the Triangle early Tuesday as authorities responded to crashes around the area.

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Slick, slushy roads made for tough traveling conditions across the Triangle early Tuesday as authorities responded to crashes around the area.

"The roads are very bad," said North Carolina Department of Transportation engineer Joseph Turner. "We urge people to stay at the house. If they have to, drive very, very slow."

Highways were slowly clearing up Tuesday, but secondary roads were still dangerous.

Troopers closed part of Interstate 95 early Tuesday after several crashes in the same area. The most serious crash involved a tractor-trailer that wiped out on the Neuse River Bridge on I-95 near Smithfield.

Rontavious Lewis, 20, of Georgia, was driving too fast on the icy highway, lost control and mowed down 300 feet of guard rail in the median, according to troopers. The cab of the truck popped off with Lewis and two passengers – Marvin Reese, 58, and John Trewitt, 20, both of Georgia – inside.

The men, who work for a moving company, were taken to a local hospital. They did not suffer serious injuries, but Reese had injuries to his face, authorities said.

Troopers charged Lewis with reckless driving.

Numerous wrecks were reported on Interstate 40 in the Triangle.

A multi-vehicle wreck involving six cars closed the two left lanes of I-40 near Aviation Parkway Monday night. No injuries were reported.

Durham police cleared a wreck on I-40 near Interstate 540 around 10:30 p.m. where victims sustained minor injuries. Troopers responded to a wreck on the highway near Harrison Avenue in Cary.

Fayetteville police worked dozens of minor wrecks throughout the day Monday, and street crews spread sand on major roads.

Lasheba Shipman's Ford Explorer spun off Shaw Road while she was trying to ascend the hill near Bragg Boulevard.

"I slid back down the hill. I couldn't make it up there," she said.

A Dodge Ram came barreling down behind her, unable to stop on thick patches of ice that had accumulated at the bottom.

"I (saw) her coming, and I was praying, 'Lord, don't let her hit me.' And she did, but I knew she couldn't help it. The ice is so thick out here," Shipman said.

Neither Shipman nor the other driver was hurt, just a little shaken.

Police closed a bridge Monday that crosses the All-American Freeway after a crash knocked over a power pole along Santa Fe Drive.

Cary officials said their roads were dangerous Tuesday morning and asked citizens to stay home.

Snow totals through Tuesday

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