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Icy roads, freezing fog slow morning commute

SEATTLE — Sub-freezing temperatures and freezing fog kept commuters and the State Patrol busy on the first day back to work for many in Western Washington.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Reporter Jeff Dubois said there were still a lot of slick spots at midday Wednesday even though the fog cleared, leaving sunny skies.

In shady areas, frost was thick in places, leaving hilly spots like streets on Queen Anne slippery.

"I could see it out my window, see all the cars loaded up with frost," said one Capitol Hill commuter, who used a credit card as an ice scraper.

The icy roads made for some treacherous driving on the morning commute.

On Highway 99 at Michigan Street in Seattle, a truck driver spun out and was pointed the wrong way. Twenty minutes later, a State Patrol trooper and the driver gingerly headed back out on the slick road.

The Washington State Patrol tweeted about the danger, noting "14 collisions today in Thurston and Pierce Counties. Be prepared for changing conditions. Icy roads don't cause collisions, drivers do."

Robert Trevino wanted to avoid any collisions at his car wash in Seattle's Interbay neighborhood. He put cones and salt out to get rid of the ice.

"We're more concerned where all the people walk, like where they come down and talk to us and all the vacuums," Trevino said.

The morning ice slowed down electric-powered trolley buses in Seattle because the wires iced up. Some routes ran as much as 15-minutes late.

Local homeless shelters were at full capacity Tuesday night because of the frigid temperatures and the Seattle Union Gospel Mission said it is already booked to capacity again for Wednesday night.