Accident Numbers Pile Up On Slippery Roads

A fresh coat of snow and ice made driving tricky Saturday, contributing to about 115 accidents in the Inland Northwest, according to state troopers and deputies.

Most of the collisions weren’t serious. But an 18-year-old Ritzville woman suffered three fractured vertebrae after a crash eight miles northeast of Ritzville, the Washington State Patrol said. Two other teenagers were also hospitalized.

Megan R. Wellsandt, 18, was flown to Deaconess Medical Center. She was still being evaluated late Saturday.

The 1990 Ford Aerostar she was riding in crashed into a 1995 Toyota 4-Runner on Hills Road at about 5:15 p.m. The Toyota lost control, spun into the Aerostar’s lane and was hit in the rear, the state patrol said.

All inside the Aerostar were teenagers from Ritzville. The driver, Scott A Galbreath, 18, suffered a hand injury. Ryan A. Benzell, 18, suffered an arm injury and complained of head and back pain. Both were taken to a hospital in Ritzville.

Another passenger in the Aerostar, Kristian R. Boness, 19, suffered a cut to his hand.

The driver of the Toyota and his passenger refused treatment. Both hail from Antioch, Calif.

“Slow down,” advised Washington State Patrol dispatcher Jeff Lopez. “That’s the most important thing. Give yourself plenty of room. If you don’t have to drive … now might be a good time to stay home.”

In the Valley, two people were hurt when a car and a pickup truck collided at Argonne and Bigelow Gulch roads at 3:10 p.m., the WSP said.

Ryan Earle, 19, suffered a cut finger after his ‘91 Geo Storm crossed the center line and slammed head-on into Richard Skirvin’s ‘96 Mazda pickup.

Earle’s passenger, Stephen Stager, 18, suffered a dislocated shoulder and head lacerations and was taken to Deaconess Medical Center.

Skirvin suffered back and shoulder injuries and was taken to Valley Hospital and Medical Center.

The car and truck were totaled, troopers said.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho and Regional editions.

This sidebar appeared with the story: FORECAST Snowy weather’s here to stay - at least until Monday. Expect 1 to 3 inches of snow to fall today, said meteorologist Lyle Hammer of the National Weather Service.