Accidents littered East Summit Street Tuesday evening as faculty and students attempted to navigate the snow-covered roads.

Mike Moses, a junior communication studies major and columnist for the Stater, was on his way to Franklin Hall at approximately 4:15 p.m. when his silver Hummer hit another car at the East Summit Street-South Lincoln Street light.

Moses said the light was red, and he pressed the gas to close the “huge gap” between his car and the one in front of him.

“As soon as I pressed the accelerator, it went and I couldn’t stop in time,” Moses said. “I had like 20 feet to stop. I tried to turn but ended up catching the back corner of (the other car).”

Mike Eilfield, the driver of the car Moses hit and a former Kent State student, was picking up his girlfriend from class. Eilfield’s vehicle was stopped at the light when he said he saw Moses’s car coming toward him in his mirror.

“He clearly couldn’t stop,” Eilfield said. “I could barely stop myself. It’s just really bad driving conditions.”

Kent Police and Kent State University Police were out surveying traffic and covering the accidents.

“We’ve handled four or five accidents since 3 o’clock, but nothing too significant,” a Kent Police dispatcher said.

Several accidents on campus had been reported to Kent State University Police, but no further information was available.

Christina Michalos, junior visual communication design major, was driving westbound on East Summit Street when her white Toyota Corolla rear-ended another car at the Morris Road intersection.

“I just couldn’t stop. The roads were too slippery,” Michalos said. “I was the last one through the light and I couldn’t stop.”

The other car involved had already left the scene of the accident while Michalos waited for friends to come to her aid.

Honking horns could be heard as vehicles accelerated cautiously on the snowy roads. Drivers up and down East Summit Street left 20 to 30 feet of space between cars to allow for safe stopping.

Senior history major Marc Lechlitner shoveled off his car in the Michael Schwartz C-Lot to prepare for his drive home.

“I mean, I drove in the last big storm before finals, so I’m not too worried about driving,” Lechlitner said. “All you have to do is go slow and not drive like a maniac.”

Cynthia Higgins, a program assistant for Upward Bound, a pre-college program in the Michael Schwartz Center, said the key is to “make yourself aware of other drivers and stay calm.”

“I value my life. I have to pick up my grandkids, and I value their lives,” Higgins said. “I just try to take my time and be cognizant of other drivers.”

Contact Julie Sickel at [email protected].