DeKALB | A water main break is said to have been the cause of two separate car accidents Thursday night at the corner of Hillcrest and First Street.

At about 7:30 p.m., a two-car accident happened in the right turn lane heading north onto First Street.

Five minutes later, another two-car accident occurred when a vehicle turning right onto First Street could not brake and slid into the side of another vehicle waiting in the left turn lane of Hillcrest heading south onto First Street.

“I slid right through,” said DeKalb resident Bandar Al Subaie. “I tried to hit the brakes and nothing worked.”

Ice and flooding waters helped in causing the accidents, said DeKalb Police Cpl. Mark Tehan.

“There was a water main break two blocks north of [the intersection],” Tehan said. “Salt trucks have been called.”

The water main broke due to the freezing temperatures, Tehan said.

Ten minutes after both drivers spoke with Tehan, DeKalb Public Works was at the scene with salt trucks pouring salt down on the entire intersection.

“I was heading to class,” said NIU student Wayne Michael. “He hit the side of my car. It isn’t too bad but I’m probably going to wait until spring to get it looked at.”

The driver side door was slightly damaged, Michael said.

“It’s dangerous,” Al Subaie said. “It can become a really big problem if it’s not cleaned.”