Kansas City, Mo. ? Forecasters on Saturday predicted a “significant” ice storm moving through eastern Kansas and much of Missouri over the next few days.

Ice accumulations could reach between 1/4 and 3/4 of an inch or more in some areas as subfreezing temperatures mix with moist air moving up from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific through Tuesday.

That would make travel treacherous, as well as creating the potential of downed tree limbs and power lines.

The area got a taste Saturday morning as freezing drizzle glazed roads across east-central and southeast Kansas and west-central and central Missouri with ice, spawning dozens of wrecks and some minor injuries.

A Leawood, police officer was injured when a sport utility vehicle lost control on Interstate 435 and slammed into his patrol car as he was getting out to investigate another vehicle parked on the side of the road.

The officer was thrown back into his car and knocked unconscious, authorities said. He was later taken to a hospital and listed in good condition.

An Overland Park officer traveling to the wreck also was involved in an accident.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a pair of fatalities near Hays, including a Canadian man who crossed the median on Interstate 70 after losing control of his pickup.

Bruce Foster Smith, 59, from Edmonton, Alberta, died Saturday morning when he lost control and crossed into the path of a semitrailer, sending both vehicles through a barrier fence and onto Old U.S. Highway 40, according to the Hays Daily News.

Lawrence police responded to nine accidents between 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. No major injuries were reported.

While forecasters said the rain should slack off Sunday night, a second and potentially heavier round off precipitation is expected Monday evening and into Tuesday.