Drivers relearn snow mobility

Local law enforcement officials have for weeks been reminding motorists to slow down in anticipation of winter driving conditions. But the region’s first significant snow Tuesday caused road conditions that left even cautious drivers helpless.

“We were running from crash to crash,” Washington State Patrol Trooper Jim Hays said.

Some of the collisions included as many as six cars. “I tried to listen on the radio,” Hays said. “I couldn’t keep up with it all.”

Neither could most early morning commuters on Spokane’s lower South Hill.

The 1 to 1.8 inches of snow packed to ice, which caused so many slide-offs and minor collisions that Spokane police closed streets and some drivers simply pulled over and gave up.

Cecil Russell, 73, waited three hours for a city gravel truck to give him the confidence to climb back into his 1977 Ford pickup.

“I just didn’t want to get into something worse further down the hill,” said Russell, who waited from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the intersection of 18th and Ray.

“There was nothing I could do. I was going to wait until I knew I could get to where I was going.”

Between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m., the WSP responded to 44 collisions in the Spokane area. Another 31 collisions were reported during that time in Whitman, Adams, Stevens and Ferry counties, Hays said.

“We’ve been very busy this morning,” he said. “But the city sounded like it got hit the worst.”

Spokane Police officers responded to more than 60 collisions, most of which caused no injuries or even serious damage, police spokesman Dick Cottam said.

A Spokane Police officer was knocked unconscious about 8:50 a.m. when he slipped on ice near Alberta Street and Central Avenue while walking to assist a motorist, Cottam said. The officer was treated and released from the hospital.

Spokane County sheriff’s deputies responded to more than 50 calls for collisions or vehicles in ditches, none with injuries that were serious, sheriff’s spokesman Cpl. Dave Reagan said.

Although the same amount of snow fell on North Idaho, that region was spared most of the problems experienced in Eastern Washington.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department, Idaho State Police and Coeur d’Alene Police Department responded to more than a dozen collisions Tuesday morning.

“Fortunately there were no major injuries,” ISP Capt. Wayne Longo said. “We’re hoping it stays warm.”

Even though the snow forced Coeur d’Alene street crews to do some plowing, it wasn’t powerful enough to be considered the first storm of the season, said streets Superintendent Jon Ingalls.

This year, Coeur d’Alene will name winter snowstorms after Disney characters. The first big blowout will be named in honor of the Little Mermaid.

“Storm Ariel will have to wait,” Ingalls joked. “We only name the big ones.”

The National Weather Service has forecast calm weather with broken clouds until Friday, when there’s a chance of more snow or rain, meteorologist Stan Savoy said.

While the icy roads were irritating for commuters and police, it provided a boon for businesses that cater to bad driving conditions.

The wait for snow tires was four hours at the University Mall Les Schwab Tire Center in Spokane Valley.

“This time of year we work six days a week, no lunches,” manager Mike Ward said.

“I try not to keep the guys here past 8 o’clock.”

Although officials for Silver Mountain announced the Idaho ski area will open Friday, and Lookout Pass partially opened last weekend, other area resorts are waiting.

Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park was scheduled to open this weekend, but General Manager Brad McQuarrie said he isn’t sure the resort will open as planned.

“It’s looking good after today’s snow,” he said, “but we need more.”

Sandpoint got 2.2 inches of snow, but Schweitzer and 49 Degrees North also are waiting for more.

While the snow got ski bums salivating, it caused several bus delays for area schools.

An empty school bus between routes in the Nine Mile Falls School District slid off a road in north Spokane County, Superintendent Michael Green said.

Another district vehicle was able to pull the bus back onto the road.

Nothing compared with the conditions on the South Hill, said Russell, the stranded driver, who has been driving area streets since 1968.

He watched a Spokane Transit Authority bus slide up to his intersection.

The driver opened her door and asked if a stranded motorist wanted a ride, Russell said.

“She wasn’t driving, she was just sliding,” Russell said of the STA bus driver. “She said, ‘Come on. I can’t stop.’ The young lady jumped on the bus and away they went.

“It was a mean one this morning,” he said. “It wasn’t a good day to be on the road.”