Getting Home Holiday Travelers Brave Blowing Snow, Icy Roads

Robert Young loaded the Barbie in the back seat and 100 pounds of weights in the trunk Tuesday.

Then he hit the highway.

The Spokane man wasn’t about to miss Christmas with his wife and daughter just because of a little snow.

“We’ve always been together for Christmas - 19 years,” Young said of his wife. “And we’re going to make it this year, too.”

Young and his 16-year-old son, Jeremy, were just two of the many late travelers who braved blowing snow and icy roads Tuesday to make it home for the holidays.

A winter storm warning was issued for North Idaho and parts of Washington through this morning, according to the National Weather Service. Four to 6 inches of white are expected in the valleys with 6 to 8 inches in the mountains by this afternoon. More snow is forecast for tonight and Thursday.

Police are warning those who must drive to be especially careful and to be prepared in case disaster strikes.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” said Lt. Doug Camster of the Idaho State Police.

Young and his son set off from Spokane Tuesday morning. But before they made it to Coeur d’Alene they already had seen four or five cars fall victim to icy Interstate 90.

“I’m just kicking back and hoping I don’t die,” Jeremy Young said, during a stop at the Huetter Rest Area outside of Coeur d’Alene.

The two have been working in Spokane while the rest of their family lives in Missoula. Treacherous conditions aside, being together on Christmas day was a priority.

So, the two men loaded the weights into the trunk for better traction and set off at a slow pace.

“I don’t get in any hurry,” Robert Young said “Missoula will be there when I get there.”

Mark and Brenda Sweitzer, of Renton, Wash., set out at 6 a.m. Tuesday, with their 8-month-old son, Nicholas.

“This is his first Christmas so we’ve got to get home to the grandparents,” Glenda Sweitzer said with Nicholas snuggled in her lap, wearing pajamas covered with lions and tigers.

Although it usually takes the couple eight hours to make the drive to Hamilton, Mont., on Tuesday it would take them closer to 12.

“We’ve seen a lot of cars that have slid off the highway,” Mark Sweitzer said. “There were like five in a row,” Glenda Sweitzer added.

The couple brought extra antifreeze and kept the gas tank full to add some weight. If the tires got too cold and frozen, Mark Sweitzer planned to pour the antifreeze on the treads, hoping it would soften them up and make them less likely to slip.

Lt. Camster suggested drivers carry the following items with them in case they slide off the road in this wintery weather.

Flares or reflective devices to set up around an accident and prevent other collisions.

Blankets

At the minimum bring warm gloves and a heavy coat. A full set of winter clothing is better.

Snack food such as candy or granola bars.

Although the Christmas season seems to be delivering some nasty driving conditions, it also brought some holiday good will as well.

Rick Alexander was driving his Jeep Cherokee west on I-90 near Huetter on Tuesday when he lost control on the ice and rolled the vehicle onto its top.

Ben Beckler was a couple of cars behind Alexander when he saw the Christmas Eve crash. Beckler stopped to help the stranger.

He wasn’t the only one. Two doctors stopped, along with a handful of others. Drivers slowed down or shouted to the men, “Is everybody OK?” “Is anybody hurt?” “Has anyone called the cops?”

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Beckler said of the good will. “In L.A. this would never happen - ever.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Winda Benedetti Staff writer Staff photographer Craig Buck contributed to this story.