More snow brings collisions, slide-offs

Collisions and slide-offs closed roads around Spokane on Tuesday as snow blanketed the Inland Northwest.

At least five people were injured in a multiple-car crash on Highway 291 about 8:15 p.m., closing the highway and rerouting about 100 cars leaving a basketball game at Lakeside High School in southern Stevens County.

The conditions of those who were injured was unavailable late Tuesday.

In Whitman County, authorities expected State Highway 194 to remain closed through this afternoon from mile posts 0 to 21 west of Pullman. Highway 26 was partially blocked Tuesday about seven miles west of Colfax due to multiple slide-offs.

Spokane police dispatchers reported many slide-offs.

T.J. Meenach Drive was closed for more than two hours Tuesday evening after cars slid off the icy road. Aeriell Phillips, 18, and Eriqa Hughes, 20, were riding in a white Ford sedan driven by 18-year-old Michael Holmes when the car in front of them braked. Holmes swerved to avoid hitting the car, sending his car off the road, Phillips said. Other cars slid trying to avoid Holmes’ vehicle.

“It’s a terrible day,” said Spokane sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Howe. “Mother Nature, she don’t care.”

By 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, the National Weather Service in Spokane had reports of 4 inches of new snow on the ground at various places throughout the county, with more coming.

“If you must travel, you can expect delays, traffic back ups and possible collisions,” Washington State Department of Transportation spokesman Al Gilson said in a press release. “Snowplows, snow blowers, and graders will be working day and night. Despite our best efforts, it is likely our crews will not be able to keep up with this predicted, far-reaching storm event.”

Another, smaller storm is expected to hit Eastern Washington tonight, dropping perhaps an inch more snow.

And there’s more to come later in the week, meteorologists predict.