SOUTH BEND — “Stay off the bypass,” local police departments warn every winter.
The bypass, as it’s referred to by locals, is the part of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway that runs through St. Joseph County Police, South Bend Police, and Elkhart County Police jurisdictions. Mishawaka Police don't have jurisdiction on the bypass, including its on and off ramps; St. Joseph County Police handle that, the Mishawaka Police Department said.
In January, St. Joseph County Police reported multiple crashes and pile-ups due to winter conditions. On Jan. 14, in the span of eight hours, county police responded to more than 33 crashes on the bypass, including a 12-car pile up. Police closed off the bypass for a few hours between Indiana 2 and Mayflower Road. No major injuries or deaths were reported.
St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman, who was on the scene that day, reported bad visibility and slick roads.
A week later, county police reported at least eight crashes and slide-offs on Jan. 23 and asked drivers to avoid the bypass if possible. Main problem areas were defined as the U.S. 20 bypass and a stretch of road on Indiana 2 between County Line Road and Strawberry Road, the department said in a crash update.