Weather continues affecting Basin drivers

MOSES LAKE - While it makes driving difficult, Grant County motorists continue to escape the brunt of the storm wreaking havoc on roads across the state.

Washington State Patrol troopers and Grant County sheriff's deputies handled about a dozen weather-related vehicle incidents on Wednesday, according to the sheriff's Chief Deputy Ken Jones, who said their number and severity wasn't as bad as expected.

The majority were non-injury fender-benders or vehicles sliding off of roads, he added.

An exception was a two vehicle collision Wednesday that injured two adults and a 2-year-old boy on state Route 28, about a mile east of Quincy.

The crash occurred at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, when Jack Trautman, 56, Ephrata, was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup west on SR 28, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Troopers say Trautman was legally passing another vehicle when he reportedly lost control and crossed into eastbound lanes, striking a 2012 Dodge Durango driven by Victoria Roberts, 25, Ephrata.

Trautman and Roberts were both reportedly injured, as was Roberts' toddler passenger, also from Ephrata. All three were transported by aid to Quincy Valley Hospital.

The crash is under investigation and any charges are pending, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Grant Transit Authority buses were running behind schedule on Thursday because of road conditions. The agency opted to cancel transit service to Othello, Royal City, Wenatchee and Route 59 to Coulee City and Grand Coulee through Friday.

Throughout Thursday, Washington State Department of Transportation crews dealt with collisions and downed trees on roads across the state as freezing rain added weight to branches already laden with snow.

Westbound Interstate 90 was closed near Cle Elum throughout the day and into the evening due to a multi-vehicle collision involving seven commercial vehicles, two of which were semi-trucks carrying hazardous material, according to the Washington State Patrol.

The hazardous material in the trucks was contained.

Numerous Washington roadways were impeded yesterday by compact snow and ice. A significant amount of ice glazed state Route 14 in the Columbia Gorge area and downed trees in east King, Pierce, Thurston and Grays Harbor counties caused lane and road closures.

Freezing rain was expected to continue impacting drivers in the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Selah, Yakima and Palouse areas, according to WSDOT.

Several inches of snow accumulated in and around Moses Lake Thursday and a further half inch or so was expected overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

Friday's forecast includes a chance of snow in the morning and a chance of rain until 4 p.m., followed by a mix of rain and snow into the night, with accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Rain  or snow is likely moving through the weekend and more snow is expected early next week.

More weather and travel information is available at www.wsdot.wa.gov or on page A2 of the Columbia Basin Herald and online at www.columbiabasinherald.com.