Public advised to avoid roads unless necessary

The public was being advised to stay off roads Wednesday morning as driving conditions remained hazardous in some locations.
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office reported several calls for assistance after vehicles slid off roadways or became stuck.
Liz Hill, director of the parish’s emergency preparedness office, said ice would continue to be a problem, as the high temperature of 36 degrees is just four degrees above freezing.
The National Weather Service predicts overnight lows Wednesday to be about 20 degrees, causing any thawing to freeze again, making for more hazardous driving in some areas Thursday, before temperatures rise toward the predicted high of 51 degrees. The Wednesday overnight low is the last freezing in the NWS long range forecast to Tuesday of next week, when the high is expected to be 68 degrees.
Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue said the low number of calls for assistance -- lower than during last week’s freezing -- was the result of a driving curfew the city set from 6 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday. Chief Lartigue thanked the public for complying with the curfew.
Drivers encountered problem areas even as temperatures crept up to the freezing point Wednesday morning. The curve in Tate Cove Road just north of the industrial park entrance was one problem area. Drivers attempting to drive on inclined roadway at the curve slid, causing minor accidents. Drivers were able to get past the curve only by driving on the grassy shoulders of the road.