BY Enquirer Wire Services
FLORENCE, Ky. -- Jinger Jarrett didn't need to refer to her map Thursday.
She had a van full of navigators, namely, children Ashley, 12, Danielle, 11 and Alex, 10. They were helping their mother make the long haul from Michigan to Georgia by familiarizing themselves with the map.
The family joined carloads of other holiday travelers Thursday as it took a break at a Boone County rest stop off Interstates 71 - 75 south of Florence.
"As long as the roads hold out, we'll be there tonight for Christmas Eve with my parents," Ms. Jarrett said.
While travel in most of the Tristate was relatively smooth Thursday, motorists in many areas, including south central and southeastern Kentucky, were slowed by icy roads.
Snow, freezing rain and deep cold across the country made a deadly mess of the Christmas Eve getaway.
The cold snap, which began over the weekend, was blamed for scores of traffic accidents across the country.
Up to 4 inches of snow were expected by nightfall from Kentucky to New Jersey. Provincetown, Mass., had 8 inches by the afternoon. Tristate residents looking for a white
Christmas will be disappointed, however. Today should be seasonably cold, with highs around 32, but it should remain dry.
At the Boone County rest stop, Kevin Frank was stuck under the hood of his pickup Thursday when he thought he'd be well on his way to Iowa.
He stood and fiddled with the ignition as he waited for his wife. Mr. Frank was just happy they had made it as far as they had.
He and his wife, Nancy, were in an accident Wednesday night when a motorist crossed three lanes of traffic after an apparent seizure and struck Mr. Frank's truck.
Then the Raleigh, N.C., couple was delayed Thursday morning near Knoxville, Tenn., by icy roads.
While the Franks were stalled, Kevin Bressler was having trouble just getting on the road Thursday.
"It took us five hours to get out of the house," he said light-heartedly, referring to the chaos of getting a family of five ready for a holiday road trip to Louisville.
"We're only staying one night. . . . The screaming started before we left the neighborhood."
Seasoned roadster Mike Kepner, a truck driver from Green Bay, Wis., also was delayed Thursday after awaking in Asheville, N.C., to find 5-inch icicles hanging from his semi.
Mr. Kepner, who was hauling frozen chickens, said he hoped to make it home to Green Bay by Christmas Eve.
"They don't know how to drive down there," he said of the Southern drivers navigating icy roads.
Among the holiday crowds at the Cincinnati - Northern Kentucky International Airport awaiting their luggage were four generations of one family.
Marty Griffin had flown in from Boston to join her mother, Ruth Griffin, who had arrived from Asheville, N.C.
Lori George of Columbus, who is Marty Griffin's niece, was waiting for them both with twin daughters Heather and Allyson, 7.
The family then planned to drive to Indiana to join more
relatives for Christmas.
"We haven't spent Christmas together in seven or eight years," Marty Griffin said. "It's exciting."
