ISP: weather conditions caused nearly a dozen accidents
A winter storm brought plenty of snow and wind to the area Saturday.
Idaho Falls received between 4 to 6 inches of snow from the storm and morning winds gushed at 38 miles per hour.
These weather conditions affected Eastern Idaho drivers, causing nearly a dozen accidents in the area.
If you braved the wind and snow this morning, chances are you witnessed one of the many fender-benders and slide-offs around town.
“In the snow conditions we had this morning, we had 5 slide-offs and 5 minor crashes so we responded to 10 minor accidents this morning,” said Sgt. Marvin Crain, with Idaho State Police.
As the weather calmed down in the afternoon, Heather Bell and her husband left the Blackfoot rest area to continue on their journey home to Canada.
“Home is probably colder than this right now, but it’s about the same,” said Bell. “We’re used to it and my husband drives in all sorts of weather so, we keep on trucking.”
The Bells said they’re trying to stay ahead of the storm, taking minimal breaks in their trip. If all goes well, they say they should be home sometime tomorrow.
“Just for lunch and then we stop every 4 or 5 hours to stretch our legs but we usually stay overnight somewhere,” said Bell. “We never drive through the night. It’s a holiday and the journey is part of the holiday.”
And for those making smaller journeys… say from Idaho Falls to Pocatello, Idaho State Police say it’s important to adjust your speed to the weather conditions.
“Depending on the conditions, we need to slow down and drive at our ability, what’s the capability of our vehicle, what’s our tire condition and things of that nature,” said Crain. “That way we’re driving safely for ourselves and others on the road.”
ISP said just because the snow stops for a bit, the roads could still be slick; so think twice before speeding up.
Saturday afternoon, the Idaho Transportation Department closed U.S. Highway 26 between Ririe and Swan Valley and State Highway 32 between Tetonia and Ashton due to drifting snow and low visibility.
No word yet on when they’ll re-open.
