Driver Makes Slick Move But Other Motorists Slip, Slide Along Snow-Covered Roads
Rob Grytness had a life-and-death decision to make and only a split second to make it.
Should he ram into the little Toyota pickup truck that had just slid in front of him? Or should he crash his 29-ton plow truck into the ditch?
“It was either the Toyota pickup or the ditch and we took the ditch,” Grytness said, Friday, standing next to the giant yellow truck that lay toppled on its side like a discarded toy. “It probably would have killed the gal in the pickup truck.”
Grytness, a sand truck driver for the Idaho Transportation Department, was just one of many North Idaho residents who fell victim to snowy weather and slick roads.
Mother Nature dumped three inches of snow on the Inland Northwest. By evening the snow was melting to slush.
North Idaho police spent the day rushing mostly to fender benders and cars sliding off the roadways. A semi truck that crashed on Interstate 90 east of Coeur d’Alene closed down eastbound traffic and left lumber across the highway. The driver, Donald Ross of Spokane, was treated and released at Kootenai Medical Center.
“We’re just buried right now with accidents,” Idaho State Police Lt. Doug Camster said Friday afternoon.
Grytness and Kevin Thurber of ITD were driving their plow west on Interstate 90 Friday morning. They were leaving a trail of sand behind them when Grytness watched a small pickup slide, hit the guard rail and then slip in front of him.
Grytness swerved toward the ditch to avoid ramming the smaller vehicle with his 58,000-pound rig and its enormous plow.
“I closed my eyes and held on,” said Thurber, who was in the passenger’s seat.
The plow hit the shoulder, yanked the giant truck onto its side and dumped several tons of sand along the roadside.
Neither man was hurt in the accident. But Thurber is convinced the move saved the small pickup driver’s life.
“You take a look at what’s on the front of these trucks,” he said pointing to the plow. “It’s a giant can opener.”
Friday kicked off a long weekend for North Idaho police gearing up for one of the busiest party weekends of the year. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: NEW YEAR’S HELPERS Area businesses helping keep drunk drivers off the road: Throughout the weekend, Sutton’s Body Shop in Post Falls along with Rainbow Towing and Smithson Towing of Coeur d’Alene will offer free tows to people who are too drunk to drive. Sunset Taxi is also offering free rides on New Year’s Eve after 6 p.m. to those who have had too much to drink.