Snow fell on the central Arkansas area Friday night with at least two inches on the ground in parts of the region, causing slick conditions and numerous wrecks .
Arkansas State Police said troopers received reports of "many dozen" crashes as the snow began accumulating after dark Friday night.
"There are a few reports from some of the crash scenes that involve injured motorists who have been transported to area hospitals," spokesman Bill Sadler said in a statement. "Most of the crashes do not involve injuries and are not blocking traffic. State Troopers are asking area residents to stay off the roadways tonight in an effort to reduce the volume of traffic which will allow emergency vehicles to more easily to the crash scenes."
The city of Little Rock said crews were working on clearing the streets but asked motorists to "avoid driving if possible." Dozens of wrecks and slideoffs were reported within Little Rock too.
Some streets, including part of Reservoir Road and Bowman Road at Chenal Parkway, were closed because of the slick conditions.
Traffic was at a complete stop just at 9 p.m. on Interstate 40, Interstate 430 and parts of Interstate 630. Click here to check live conditions on the ArkansasOnline traffic map.
On University Avenue south of Kavanaugh Boulevard, multiple vehicles had wrecked at the base of a steep hill, police on scene said. Traffic was being rerouted.
On Markham Street, cars slid while drivers attempted — sometimes unsuccessfully — to get up the hilly area near UAMS Medical Center. One truck hit Pizza D'Action — the bar and restaurant at Markham and Kavanaugh Boulevard, — breaking a window before fleeing the area, witnesses on scene said.
Police in Benton, meanwhile, reported numerous accidents in that city after the snow started to accumulate.
Previous weather reports predicted that up to three inches of snow would fall in central Arkansas on Friday evening.
As a result of the impending weather threat, schools in Pulaski County dismissed early Friday afternoon.