Snow comes down, but drivers' speeds don't

Slippery roads, another dusting of snow and people driving too fast added to the latest round of winter misery for Kane County on Tuesday.

An accident at Randall Road south of the Mill Creek bridge, between Batavia and North Aurora, injured three people, police said.

A Ford Explorer that was driving south on Randall lost control, spun into the northbound lanes and hit an Infiniti. Two adults and one child were taken to Delnor-Community Hospital in Geneva around 8:30 a.m. The road was shut down while Kane County sheriff's deputies investigated and called for more ice-melting salt to be spread.

There were also property-damage accidents on Main Street west of Randall near Batavia, and Randall and Mooseheart roads near North Aurora, said Kane County sheriff's department Lt. Pat Gengler.

Batavia Fire Marshal Tom Springer said the roads didn't look like they were slick, but were indeed.

"People just don't seem to slow down. I really don't know what the problem is," he said.

St. Charles firefighters responded to two weather-related accidents Tuesday morning, Assistant Chief Joe Schelstreet said. The first crash was reported at 7:48 a.m. at Dunham Road and Woodmere Lane in Wayne; the other was about 9:24 a.m. at Randall and Red Gate roads. Schelstreet said people were injured in both crashes, but the extent of their injuries was unclear.

Wayne police officer Michael Coscino said the driver of a minivan was taken to Delnor-Community Hospital after the crash at Dunham and Woodmere. Coscino said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. He said that the minivan collided with a sport utility vehicle.

Geneva and Sugar Grove reported no problems with roads Tuesday morning.

Across the county, road maintenance crews have been dealing with salt shortages and exhausted drivers.

Richard Burnidge, Elgin Township highway commissioner, said plows simply can't get down to the pavement with a light snow dusting.

"The roads are greasy right now. When you get a light snowfall, there's still a skin after you plow it," he said. "You get it cleaned up and you think you're going to have a day or two break, and then we have another. Everybody's had it up to their eyeballs here."

Gengler said deputies responded to a higher number of accidents Tuesday morning than usual, but he could not pinpoint exactly how many.

Gengler agreed with Springer that bad driving habits are a huge factor.

"One of the major causes of crashes is individuals not choosing to drive defensively and slow down," he said. "That always seems to be a factor -- people just not slowing down."

Some towns, such as Gilberts, asked for patience from residents.

A letter posted on the village's Web site by Village President Thomas Wajda said the public works department just received more salt, but would not stretch it by mixing it with sand.

"Using sand will clog sewers, which will cause flooding in the spring creating a bigger problem than the temporary icy conditions," read part of Wajda's message.

• Daily Herald staff writers Josh Stockinger, Harry Hitzeman and Nancy Gier contributed to this story.