First snowfall causes crashes

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December 8, 2009

Officers responded to 10 slide-offs

By JENNIFER TANGEMAN Pharos-Tribune Tue Dec 08, 2009, 07:03 AM EST

With the first snow of the season came an increase in traffic accidents Monday.

Sgt. Tony Slocum of the Indiana State Police Peru District said officers responded to 10 slide-off accidents within five hours Monday morning. Slocum said on a normal business day the state police see maybe one or two crashes in that time frame.

�That is typical for the most part for the first snowfall of the year,� he said. �Even though it is forecast, it catches people off guard and people are still getting their winter bearings so to speak.�

Logansport assistant fire chief Dave Huff agreed that drivers often times do not help the situation.

�I think some people panic when they drive,� Huff said. �And some don�t realize it�s as slick out and don�t know how fast they can go.�

Even while driving cautiously, Huff said roadways were dangerous Monday.

�It was really very slick out there,� he said. �It didn�t appear to be bad, but when it gets coated with that light packing of snow or slush it gets really slick.�

Huff said he and fellow firefighters nearly crashed on their way to the scene of an automobile accident just before 10 a.m. Monday. He explained while traveling north bound on Ind. 25 near 200 North a woman traveling in the opposite direction of the first responders slid over into the lane of oncoming traffic and went off the road.

�I didn�t think we were going to be able to avoid her,� Huff said. �We were able to get around her. We were really lucky.�

At about 5 a.m. Monday a semi ran into five vehicles that were involved in two separate crashes on Interstate 65 southbound in Clinton County.

Rafael Hill, 21, Lebanon, was killed in the crash after a semi pulling a box trailer drove through five vehicles scattered across the interstate from weather-related crashes. Hill had stepped out of his car when the semi came crashing through the pack of cars, and struck Hill, dragging him approximately 50 yards before the semi came to rest against the outside guardrail.

Slocum said the accidents near Logansport had not resulted in any serious injuries.

�Fortunately there have been no serious injuries in the crashes the Indiana State Police has responded to,� he said. �The crashes have been minor with minor property damage to vehicles.�

Cass County Sheriffs responded to a call around 6:30 a.m. Monday regarding a crash on Ind. 25 near Cass County Road 175 West. According to Deputy John O�Connor�s report, Gary Colford, 46, Logansport, was driving up a small hill when he lost control of his vehicle. Colford told deputies he went off the south side of the road and struck the embankment.

Colford complained of back pain and was taken to Logansport Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Cass County Highway Department superintendent Steve Easley said officials at the department handled the first signs of winter weather by salting and sanding roads.

�When there is no accumulation of snow there is not much we can do,� Easley said. �We got salt and sand on the roads and on trouble spots that we are aware of.�

Easley said the highway department will work throughout the winter to get crews on the roads before any major events hit so people can get around safely.

�We think we�re in good shape,� he said. �Based on weather predictions we might be finding out in the next few days.�

� Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.

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