Vehicles, slide, collide on icy roads

MOSES LAKE —Dropping temperatures took their toll on several vehicles last night.

Several accidents throughout the Basin were reported to emergency services, one accident involving a Washington State Patrol trooper.

"It was a busy night all over the district," said trooper Rich Magnussen. "It went from wet roadways to icy roadways real quick."

Trooper Scott Neustel, 34, overturned his car on an icy stretch of Highway 17 near Neppel Road, while traveling to the scene of an accident, according to the state patrol.

Neustel was temporarily trapped in his vehicle until fire units arrived.

He received head lacerations and released today from Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake, said Magnussen.

The trooper was traveling northbound on the highway and attempting to pass on the left of yielding motorists when he hit the icy conditions, causing him to slide off the roadway and overturn.

Emergency crews attempted to secure the scene and divert traffic around the accident, but a three-car collision occurred about a half mile back from the wrecked WSP vehicle.

"Temperatures dropped just enough," said Magnussen. "It caught people off guard."

A car approaching stopped traffic, failed to brake in time and slid into the back of another car, which moved into the side of an oncoming third vehicle.

No injuries were reported from the three men involved in the second accident. Only two of the cars received visible damage.

Investigators determined the 2002 Ford Crown Victoria WSP vehicle was totaled.

— Staff report