HAVERHILL — If it wasn't a slippery surface, it was a pothole or a trench.
Inner city drivers faced several problems yesterday, including slippery roads that caused crashes, potholes at the northern end of Basiliere Bridge, and one downtown street that was closed for the installation of underground power lines.
Police said a woman driving a Hyundai Elantra on River Street around 8 a.m., near the Methuen line, lost control on the slippery road, crossed into the opposite lane and sideswiped an oncoming Hummer. Police Capt. Michael Wrenn said the woman tried to regain control of her car after it began to slide but was unable to avoid hitting the other vehicle. No injuries were reported.
Around 9:45 a.m., a man driving a Mercury Sable on Hilldale Avenue, near the Atkinson, N.H., line, skidded out of control on the slippery road and crashed into a small tree. The man was not injured, police said.
Drivers traveling south on Main Street got a jolt when passing over cracks and potholes that developed in the wet road surface, where Main Street approaches the Basiliere Bridge. City officials placed warning signs over the holes and said they plan to patch the area.
Around 11:30 a.m., four drivers traveling south on Main Street got into a bumper-crunching crash while crossing Basiliere Bridge. Police said a chain reaction developed after one car was unable to stop and then slid into the rear bumper of the car in front of it, which then struck the next car, which then struck the rear of a pickup truck. No injuries were reported.
"It was typical bumper-to-bumper traffic at that time," Wrenn said.
A portion of Moulton Way, from Wingate Street to Washington Street, was closed most of the day yesterday while an electrical contractor hired by National Grid installed underground power lines.
Details in terror plot revealed
Red Sox players, fans react to the epic collapse
Buy Shonda Schilling's clothes for a good cause
Sox fans feeling let down again
