Ice flying off trucks breaks windshields, one driver is injured

LACONIA — Ice falling off trucks broke the windshields of two cars on North Main Street near an industrial park on Monday, and a passenger’s hand was cut in one of the accidents, police said. 

In both cases, the motorists did not get the license plate numbers of the trucks involved.

The first incident occurred at 10:46 a.m. on North Main Street near Lexington Drive.

“A big chunk of ice came off a truck and smashed through the front window of a 2013 Volkswagen Jetta,” said Police Chief Matt Canfield. “A passenger had a laceration on his hand, but refused treatment.”

The second accident occurred at 4:46 p.m. in the same general area. Ice falling off a truck broke the windshield of a 2006 Nissan Murano. Nobody was injured.

New Hampshire has Jessica’s Law, which was passed in 2002 after a woman died in a car accident in Peterborough after a 9-foot piece of ice flew off a tractor-trailer.

Canfield said a total of four traffic accidents were reported in icy conditions Monday.

He cautioned drivers to make sure they’ve brushed snow and ice from their vehicles before they go on the road. 

Drivers can be fined $250 to $500 for the first offense and could be fined up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses and could lose their license.

Not only can ice hit cars and cause damage, but vehicles may swerve to avoid falling ice and trigger traffic accidents, the American Automobile Association said in a news release.

A 2009 study by the American Transportation Research Institute, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, found that 54 percent of big rig drivers in the United States and Canada said they “rarely or never” remove accumulated snow and ice from their vehicles. Yet 35 percent of the tractor-trailer drivers surveyed could tell of an experience of snow or ice causing injury or property damage to another motorist, the ATRI study reported.

AAA lists best practices for icy conditions:

• Make or buy a de-icer spray and use it on the windshield, side windows and mirrors to kick ice clearing into high gear.

• Use de-icer on the wiper blades and pull them off the glass before scraping the windshield. Tears on the rubber parts of the blades could ruin them.

• A telescoping foam snow brush can help you clear hard-to-reach areas on the roof. Plus, unlike brooms and shovels, foam tools are less likely to scratch a car’s finish.

• Work from the top down, pulling snow toward you. It requires less effort and helps you avoid having to clear the same areas twice.

• If the vehicle is an SUV or taller, grab a step stool to help access the roof.

• When possible, park facing east the night before. This will give the sun a chance to get the melting going in the a.m.

• Never use hot water to melt ice; instead, let your front and rear defrosters work their magic – just make sure the tailpipe is clear, and never leave the engine running in an enclosed area like a garage.