Although the worst of the season's first major winter storm had already passed over the area, local law enforcement, emergency personnel and rescue crews were dealing with its aftermath throughout the day on Thursday.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was busy cleaning up debris from two accidents in opposite directions of the Ohio Turnpike about 10:30 a.m. near the Warren exit at state Route 5 - close to Newton Falls.
Although details on the two crashes remained sketchy, troopers confirmed that at least one person involved in a rollover crash on the turnpike was transported to a local hospital by ambulance.
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Meanwhile, troopers said that in a second crash a black Lexus SUV lost control, hit the median and spun into traffic. A woman was driving, and there was a 6-year-old child inside. Both were wearing their seat belts.
Their vehicle ended up hitting a green SUV, which caused it to flip on its side. Allan Cadwell, his wife, two daughters and their dog were inside. No one was seriously injured in that crash.
"We're all walking away, and it's a good lesson for my kids. I got one that just got her driver's license and another one that will be getting hers in a little while. And they know it can happen in a split second," Cadwell said.
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Tribune Chronicle / Bob Coupland
James Guy III, 7, of Champion, left, and Caleb Merring, 8, of Florida, zip down a snowy hill at Packard Park in Warren with a push from James Guy Jr.
Troopers cited the woman driving the black SUV for failure to control. The accidents may have been caused by black ice and likely were weather-related, according to the patrol.
Statewide, the situation was much the same.
"We obviously have had multiple crashes around the state (Wednesday)," said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Anne Ralston. "There were crashes that resulted in temporary road closures throughout the state. Things have improved today."
Department of Transportation snow plow crews were still working on roads where blowing and drifting snow accumulated, and also clearing Wednesday's piles from shoulders and medians.
Some of the state's heaviest snowfalls were in western counties and in the northeast near Lake Erie that got 8 to 10 inches.
As of midnight Thursday 10.7 inches of snow had fallen across Trumbull and Mahoning counties since Wednesday, prompting area officials to issue parking bans in several communities, including Warren, Liberty and Youngstown. Most of the bans remain in effect until further notice.
At times during the height of the storm, snowfall rates approached 1 to 2 inches per hour and brought high winds at 10 to 20 miles per hour with gusts of up to 30 miles per hour.
Area police and fire departments reported numerous fender benders and work crews remained busy clearing roads on Thursday.
For all of its fury, the winter storm had only been blamed for one death statewide.
Jessica Galley of Mason was killed Wednesday afternoon when she lost control of her car on southbound Interstate 71 near Cincinnati, drove across the median and crashed into a northbound Ohio Department of Transportation snow plow, the Hamilton County sheriff's office said. The snow plow driver wasn't injured.
Forecasters expected many Ohioans to see some more, but lighter, snowfall in scattered showers this weekend.