Accident Numbers Pile Up On Slippery Roads ‘Slow Down,’ Wsp Dispatcher Advises As Crashes Counted In Dozens By Troopers And Deputies

Sun., Jan. 4, 1998

From Staff Reports

No snow tires? Good luck.

A fresh coat of snow and ice made driving tricky Saturday, contributing to about 50 accidents in Spokane County, according to state troopers and deputies.

Most of the collisions weren’t serious. Nonetheless, it’s best to avoid buying Bond-O or paying for a visit to the auto body shop.

“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.”

Not everyone escaped with mere dings. Some cars ended up in ditches. 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, was headed north on Argonne. Richard Skirvin, 48, was heading south. Earle’s ‘91 Geo Storm crossed the center line and slammed head-on into Skirvin’s ‘96 Mazda pickup.

Earle was unharmed, save for a cut finger. His 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.

In the five northern counties of the Idaho Panhandle, the Idaho State Police reported 11 accidents, some with minor injuries. The ISP said 15 tractor-trailers lost control on icy White Bird Hill on Highway 95 south of Grangeville.

, DataTimes MEMO: Changed in the Idaho and Spokane 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. At lower elevations - below 3,000 feet - snow should be mixed with rain. Temperatures are expected to stay in the mid-20s to lower 30s.

Changed in the Idaho and Spokane editions.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.