Ice storm caused hundreds of road accidents in several midwest states of the United states without immediate report of casualties on Friday.

Ice storm caused hundreds of road accidents in several midwest states of the United states without immediate report of casualties on Friday.

Some of the worst icy driving conditions in years hit the Chicago area early Friday morning, causing crashes too numerous to count, according to local media reports.

"If we had the manpower, we'd close down every expressway in the area," an Illinois State Police dispatcher said. State police called out day-shift troopers two hours early to handle the crisis.

Police in the state of Indiana have reopened the Indiana Toll Road after closing the highway for several hours because of icy conditions, but authorities still advised motorists to stay off the roads.

Toll road officials in the state say road conditions should improve as temperatures increase and the road salt begins to melt the ice. But the National Weather Service issued a freezing rain advisory for much of northern Indiana for Friday.

The Michigan State Police reported that all roadways were iced and warned of "extremely hazardous conditions." A number of accidents were reported on interstate highways, police said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2008)