Kamloops RCMP dealt with a half dozen vehicle crashes Thursday morning when a temperature drop turned roadways into ice rinks.

“You had a layer of ice that formed between the vehicle tires and the actual roadway,” said RCMP Staff Sgt. Grant Learned.

The calls began coming in at 7 a.m. from Highway 1 east of Kamloops.

Three collisions occurred within 25 minutes, blocking both west and eastbound lanes.

That prompted the police to call road maintenance crews for help mitigating the problem, said Learned.

The most serious accident of the day happened at the corner of Halston Avenue and Salish Road.

A Saturn Ion turning left onto Salish Rd. lost traction and skidded as a pickup truck was bearing down on it.

The car was T-boned on its passenger side, causing a domino effect that connected with a third vehicle stopped at a red light.

All three vehicles’ airbags deployed, saving the drivers from serious injuries, but causing a few minor ones as well.

All three were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

At around 9:30 a.m., another series of accidents occurred on Highway 5 towards Rayleigh.

The drivers of two vehicles lost control on slippery ice and went off the road, rolling into the ditch.

One vehicle landed on its side and the other on its roof. Again the occupants were not seriously injured.

Collisions in icy conditions can be avoided, said Learned.

“You’ve got to drive to the prevailing conditions,” he said. “While the posted speed limit may say 100 or 90 or 80, have a look at the road surface. If you could see a reflective sheen coming off it that’s your first clue you’re not driving on bare pavement.”