Increased collisions due to Sunday snowfall

Vehicles slide on slippery roadways

COLUMBIA BASIN - When snow fell in the Columbia Basin Sunday, it resulted in an increase of vehicle collisions.

It appears the majority of vehicle collisions happened in Moses Lake and along state highways.

The Moses Lake Police Department and the Moses Lake Fire Department responded to seven reported vehicle collisions between Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.

Two rear-end collisions were reported to police. One took place on North Stratford Road and another on Valley Road causing one injury, according to police documents.

One vehicle reportedly crashed into a brick wall at the Grant County Public Utility District substation on East Nelson Road resulting in one injury.

Three other vehicles were involved in striking road signs and roundabout curbs.

A reporting party advised of a vehicle spinning "doughnuts" in parking lots along Grape Drive.

Early Monday morning, a reporting party advised of a hit and run on West Lakeside Drive. The victim's vehicle was parked on the street when it was allegedly struck by a vehicle suspected to be a 2004 Cadillac Escalade. Police identified the suspect vehicle after locating a nearby license plate.

Slippery road conditions contributed to traffic issues throughout the Moses Lake area.

The Washington State Patrol responded to 12 vehicle collisions along state highways including state routes 243, 155, 24, 17 and Interstate 90, Washington State Patrol trooper Rich Magnussen said. Two of the 12 collisions resulted in injuries.

Weather conditions were attributed to the increase of collisions, he said.

Magnussen said there are several ways to prevent vehicle collisions.

He said drivers need to be better prepared for diverse weather conditions by having proper snow tires, functional windshield wipers and anti-freeze.

Speed and following too close are the main factors in diverse weather condition-related collisions, Magnussen said.

Drivers must slow down during winter weather conditions and increase their following distance, he said.