Huckleberries: Accident response perfect, traffic control not so much

Many are still amazed by the top-notch actions of first responders and surgeons during the three-semi wreck near the I-90/Rose Lake intersection Thursday, Jan. 19. Including Jacques Lemieux of Kellogg. They saved a man’s life under brutal winter and operating conditions. But Jacques also is frustrated with the traffic control. Or lack thereof. Jacques was one of the westbound motorists caught in the nine-mile, crash-caused traffic jam. The accident occurred at about 5:45 a.m. Jacques was stuck on the Cataldo bridge at 12:45 p.m. “There was not any warning of the traffic stop ahead,” Jacques tells Huckleberries. “I did see a man driving a DOT (Department of Transportation) car placing fuses on the shoulder (indicating) we should slow down.” Traffic, Jacques says, should have been diverted off the freeway at Cataldo and west on a frontage road. Jacques and other locals drove west on the shoulder of the freeway, exited and then bypassed the wreck. Jacques said he had no trouble getting to Rose Lake and back onto the freeway. “I know this was a tough situation,” says Jacques, but (police agencies) created far more of a problem than need be by not doing traffic control on the east end of this situation.” Monday morning quarterbacking? Maybe. But a teachable moment, too/ DFO , Friday Huckleberries print. More here.