Schools close as storm leaves Dallas-Fort Worth coated in ice

The freezing rain and sleet have moved on, but not before leaving most of Dallas-Fort Worth coated in upwards of a quarter-inch of ice, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters say roads and sidewalks will remain icy until late morning when temperatures are expected to warm above freezing. Most schools, including the Dallas Independent School District, have cancelled classes for today. Hundreds of accidents have been reported since Tuesday evening when the wintry mix began to fall and temperatures dropped into the 20s. Sanding crews worked throughout the night, but some area bridges, ramps and roads may be temporarily closed. Thousands of people were without power late Tuesday, area utilities reported. About 8,400 people were had no electricity in Lewisville, according to First Power Choice Inc. The company said it hoped to have power restored by midnight. Elsewhere, Oncor said several hundred people across its North Texas territory lost power Tuesday night, but spokeswoman Debbie Moore said the number was expected to be higher by this morning. Meanwhile, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department added staffing and extended shifts to handle a high call load. The department planned to have extra manpower on the streets starting at 5 a.m. today to help with potential rush-hour problems, spokeswoman Kim Leach said. Authorities were investigating whether icy road conditions played a role in a man’s death on a West Dallas overpass. The man fell from the bridge into the Trinity River bottoms along Westmoreland Road, near Canada Drive, about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Preliminary indications were that he may have slipped and fallen when he got out of his car during a traffic backup. Other area school districts to cancel classes include Arlington, Carroll, Grapevine-Colleyville, Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Keller, Kennedale, Mansfield, Midlothian, Northwest, Red Oak and White Settlement. Many other districts and numerous universities delayed the start of classes. Some city offices also were expected to be closed today, and numerous events in the area were being postponed. At least 185 flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and a dozen or so at Dallas Love Field had been canceled by late Tuesday. All flights at D/FW Airport were undergoing de-icing treatment just prior to takeoff, airport spokesman Ken Capps said in a news release late Tuesday evening. Flights this morning could be severely disrupted as conditions deteriorate, and delays are likely, officials said. Staff writers Marissa Alanis, Deborah Fleck and Scott Goldstein, and WFAA-TV (Channel 8) contributed to this report. DRIVING TIPS The Texas Department of Public Safety's tips for driving in wintry conditions: •Check road conditions using the news media or the Texas Department of Public Transportation's Web site at www.dot.state.tx.us/travel /road_conditions.htm. •Wear your seat belt, and make sure all passengers – including children – are buckled up. •Adjust your speed to fit the conditions. Speed is the main problem with driving on ice. Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. •Watch for ice, and remember that it forms first on bridges, overpasses and shaded areas. •Recover from a skid by taking your foot off the gas pedal, not hitting the brakes. Steer gently in the direction you want the front of the car to go. As the car straightens out, you will be able to regain traction and control. •If you become stranded, call the DPS help line at 1-800-525-5555 for assistance from a DPS trooper or appropriate emergency service.