Ice and snow cause hundreds of wrecks across 3 states

Winter weather: An overturned fire engine rests alongside a road after sliding on ice Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. IMAGE

AP Photo: The Knoxville News Sentinel, Michael Patrick. Winter weather: An overturned fire engine rests alongside a road after sliding on ice Friday in Knoxville, Tenn. IMAGE

1/25/13

An ice storm warning was issued from the Smoky Mountains northward through Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and well into Kentucky.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Freezing rain and sleet have closed schools and offices and caused hundreds of wrecks across North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.

The icy weather snarled traffic across much of western and central North Carolina. The Department of Transportation reported traffic moving under 30 mph on much of Interstate 40 from Winston-Salem to Raleigh and Interstate 85 from Charlotte to Durham.

Charlotte police were responding to dozens of calls about cars that were overturned as the heaviest freezing rain moved through.

The storm has caused no deaths, and only scattered power outages have been reported.

Photo Gallery: Icy weather hits the South

Tennessee had declared a state of emergency as a precaution and the eastern part of the state is seeing significant icing.

An ice storm warning was issued from the Smoky Mountains northward through Knoxville, Cumberland Gap and well into Kentucky.

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