Snow causes accidents, delays

COLUMBIA BASIN — A hefty first serving of snow Thursday left many motorists slipping and sliding on Basin roads, and delayed the start of school for most area students Friday.

A heavy snow warning remained in effect for much of the day Thursday, but the National Weather Service forecast changed to isolated snow showers Friday with a 20 percent chance of precipitation.

The snow and ice caused delays for many area schools and buses. The Moses Lake School District start was delayed by two hours Friday.

The icy road conditions led to a number of fender bender accidents, and some were sent to area hospitals for injuries. The Moses Lake Police Department responded to more than a dozen accidents Thursday night due to icy roads, the majority of which were minor.

A 49-year-old Moses Lake man suffered broken ribs, a lower back and shoulder when his 1992 Mercury Cougar was struck head on by a 1986 Honda Accord on Highway 17. Mercury driver Rex L. Wallschlaeger was transported to Samaritan Hospital for injuries after the accident at 2:40 p.m. The Washington State Patrol said 19-year-old Luis Ramirez Solano of Quincy was heading northbound on the highway eight miles north of Moses Lake when he lost control and struck the Mercury. Ramirez Solano suffered back and neck injuries and was transported to Samaritan Hospital, as was his passenger 19-year-old Felipa Sanchezpena of Quincy. Sanchezpena was transported to the hospital for lower hip and shoulder injuries, the WSP said.

On westbound Interstate 90, the driver of a 2000 Ford Explorer rotated into a guardrail when passing a tractor-trailer and was struck by the semi seven miles west of Moses Lake. The WSP said 35-year-old Tina M. Drew of Yakima suffered head injuries and was transported to Samaritan Hospital. The driver of the Peterbilt tractor-trailer was not injured in the accident.

In both accidents, the WSP said motorists were traveling too fast for the icy conditions.

WSP troopers responded to 16 collisions Thursday. The agency is encouraging motorists to turn on lights for visibility in winter conditions.

Veronica Estrada Gottschalk, 34, of Moses Lake, escaped serious injury when the 2000 Ford Ranger pick up she was driving slid off the roadway in the 19000 block of White Trail Road, 10 miles southwest of Quincy.

Gottschalk told the Grant County Sheriff's Office that she lost control of her vehicle on the icy roadway and went down an embankment. The Ford later flipped and landed on its tires at the edge of a farm field. The GCSO said Gottschalk was transported to Quincy Valley Hospital for neck and back pain, and was later released.

Winter driving information supplied by the Washington State Department of Transportation encourages drivers to slow down on icy roads, and said the speed limits are posted for dry conditions. WSDOT also encourages plenty of room for stopping and asks motorists to clear snow and ice from vehicles before driving.

The National Weather Service has forecasted a light chance of snow showers over the next several days.