Freezing weather sends drivers sliding
Tye Barlow pauses to get his footing while taking his children, Brianna,10, and Koby, 5, out for a ride on their sled and family dog, Albert, out for a walk Thursday. “It worked well once we got on some snow and ice,” Barlow said. (Photo by DAVID KEYES)
SANDPOINT — Emergency personnel throughout Bonner County hit the icy roadways Wednesday in response to nonstop reports of weather-related accidents.
After a rare late-winter blizzard sideswiped the Northwest with reduced visibility and slippery roads, sheriff and police departments scrambled to keep up with accident reports.
“The weather conditions on Wednesday definitely put a strain on all county resources,” Sheriff Daryl Wheeler said.
Throughout the day, motorists reported a total of 16 accidents. During the afternoon, a tractor-trailer skidded and jackknifed on Highway 41 at Spirit Lake, completely blocking traffic. With sheriff deputies busy responding to other accidents, an ambulance arrived at the scene to set up emergency flares. Later, at 3:10 p.m., a red passenger vehicle rear-ended a school bus with children onboard. An ambulance and medical crew arrived in response to one child’s complaints of pain. Finally, a multiple-car pile-up with relatively minor damages occurred at Clagstone Road during the evening.
“It’s a good thing we have a great relationship with outside agencies,” Wheeler said. “We needed everyone’s help on Wednesday.”
The blizzard set in Wednesday afternoon after a low-pressure area of the blizzard centered on Sandpoint, generating heavy snowfall and fierce winds. By the time the weather settled down, dozens of additional inches in snowfall covered the region.
According to the National Weather Service, the storm hit Bonners Ferry with an additional 20 inches. The wind chill conditions, meanwhile, reached 30 below zero, a far cry from the 40 degree weather typical around this time of year. In response to the harsh conditions, the Lake Pend Oreille School District closed its doors on Thursday.
“I’m glad it’s over and the sun is out,” Wheeler said. “I’m ready for some fishing weather to settle in.”