Slick roads, more crashes as snow blankets Spokane

About an inch of snow fell across the Inland Northwest Wednesday morning, leading to slick roads.

The National Weather Service said snow would continue until about 11 a.m., with a chance of snow and freezing rain for the rest of the day. Rain is predicted to begin overnight and continue Thursday morning.

Minor crashes were widespread across the county. The Washington State Patrol responded to 33 crashes between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesday on state roads and highways, spokesman Trooper Randy Elkins said. Three involved minor injuries, and the rest had no injuries.

Spokane police received reports of 10 crashes between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday. That’s more than in a typical morning, police spokeswoman Officer Teresa Fuller said.

“It’s not because of the snow, it’s because people aren’t driving for the snow,” she said.

Fuller said drivers should slow down and leave extra following distance to account for the layer of ice that’s usually under the snow.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office had reports of 20 crashes in unincorporated areas of the county and six in Spokane Valley between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. Those crashes also appeared to be minor, spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said.

Gregory said it’s important to remember that vehicles with good traction still need extra time to stop in slippery conditions.

“Physics doesn’t change for a four-wheel drive. It takes just as long to stop,” he said.

Drivers can help prevent accidents by signaling lane changes, letting people merge and looking out for kids and pedestrians as it gets dark and roads freeze over.

“Be courteous to each other. We all have to share the road. We all have families to get home to,” Gregory said.