Icy weather leads to death in eastern Mo.

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- A Hermann woman dies in Montgomery County, after she lost control of her car in icy conditions.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol identifies the victim of Tuesday's crash as 59-year-old Elayne Thompson. They say she ran off a roadway around 6 a.m. and her car struck a tree.

Freezing rain around St. Louis caused widespread traffic problems and forced numerous school closings.

Numerous accidents and spinouts were reported early Tuesday, especially on bridges and overpasses. Forecasters say only a thin layer of ice is needed to make roads, bridges, sidewalks and parking lots icy, and that it can be difficult to tell when ice begins to form.