DALLAS, TEXAS — Dangerous wintry conditions caused chaos on the Woodall Rodgers Freeway late Saturday night, forcing drivers to reverse and travel in both directions along the same lanes as freezing precipitation coated the roadway with ice around 11 p.m., according to video and eyewitness reports.
Footage captured near the downtown Dallas stretch of the freeway shows multiple vehicles stuck, sliding, or attempting to turn around as traction vanished and visibility dropped. Several drivers were seen carefully backing up or navigating against normal traffic flow in an effort to escape the icy conditions.
Ice Quickly Overwhelms Major Dallas Freeway
The incident occurred as a wave of freezing rain and sleet moved through North Texas, rapidly icing elevated roadways and bridges. The Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which runs through the heart of Dallas and connects several major highways, became especially hazardous due to its elevation and exposure.
Drivers reported that even low speeds were difficult to maintain as tires lost grip almost instantly. In the video, headlights reflect off a solid sheet of ice, while vehicles struggle to climb slight inclines or come to controlled stops.
Vehicles Forced to Improvise as Conditions Deteriorate
As conditions worsened, some motorists made the risky decision to reverse or travel the wrong direction to avoid collisions or being stranded. Traffic appeared to slow to a crawl, with several cars stopping entirely while others attempted to maneuver around them…