The snow is causing problems on highways in Douglas County and northeast Kansas, and Kansas Highway Patrol officials are warning people not to drive “if they don’t have to.”

According to Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kari Wempe, there have been 33 accidents in Lawrence as of 2:30 p.m. Three of those were minor injury accidents, she said.

One inch of snow has accumulated in Lawrence so far today and up to one inch more is expected in the next few hours. Jennifer Schack, 6news chief meteorologist said sleet is mixing with snow now and the precipitation should continue until about 3:30 p.m. Areas northeast of Lawrence including Tonganoxie, Piper, Basehor and Leavenworth may see up to three inches of snow today, Schack said.

Lawrence Douglas County Fire & Medical workers have reported two accident scenes on the Kansas Turnpike’s Interstate 70 west of Lawrence, including one where a trooper’s vehicle was struck about nine miles west of the west Lawrence exit, said Technical Trooper Edna Buttler.

At 10:25 a.m., the trooper was in the front seat of his patrol car working another accident in the westbound lanes. A person involved in that accident was also in the patrol car. A vehicle then slid out of the road and struck the patrol car, Buttler said.

She did not have information about any possible injuries.

A second wreck was reported 15 minutes later, three miles west of there in the eastbound turnpike lanes. Medics have not reported the possible severity of any injuries, dispatchers said.

In Lawrence, dispatchers said several non-injury accidents have occurred this morning.

Buttler said troopers and turnpike officials were “extremely busy” because the turnpike was icy going south to Wichita and “getting worse going east.”

“(People) really need to take extra time going from home to work,” said Lt. Kari Wempe, a Douglas County Sheriff’s spokeswoman. “Slow down. Make sure your tires are in good shape, and allow for windows to be cleared completely. Allow plenty of space in between cars.”

Wempe said the weather did not appear to be a factor in a non-injury wreck just northwest of Lawrence at 6 a.m., but drivers should still be cautious today, she said.