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WSP Officials: Snowstorm To Blame For Over 700 Accidents

The snowstorms that hit the Washington state continue to cause problems. And according to officials, Washington State Patrol troopers were still interviewing people a week after the snow that covered Interstate 82 sent 10 vehicles crashing into each other.

While this pile up happened because the roadway was slippery, it’s just one of the hundreds of crashes that happened between Connell and the Oregon border.

Officials say they registered 705 accidents total, with 351 of them happening during last week’s storms in the Tri-Cities region. Sunnyside had 184 accidents while Yakima had 144 crashes.

In Kennewick, one of the most violent snow storms in recent history resulted in 136 accidents. That’s because the snow was picked up and carried by 25 mph winds that ruined visibility for many drivers. As a result, officials had to shut down Interstate 82 south of Kennewick as well as a portion of Highway 240 just west of Richland.

Officials hadn’t seen anything like what happened then. The light snow coupled with the whiteout conditions forced the WSDOT to bring additional equipment into the area as well as full crews. Despite their work and dedication, the snow made it difficult for them to keep the roadways clear. As a result, officials had to close at least six routes.

One of the most serious accidents happened precisely as officials closed Interstate 82.

Officials say that while four people were seriously injured, they also had to send several others to hospitals. Thankfully, officials did not report any fatalities.

In addition, the weather was so much harsher than so many expected that hundreds of cars ended up stranded along the highway.

As the snowstorm unfolded, more and more crashes happened. This problem caused serious delays and put the lives of countless drivers in danger.

What The Snowstorm Accidents Teaches Us

In many of the cases that led to accidents, drivers were simply going too fast. According to officials, drivers often ignored the risks and went too fast for the snowy condition.

As officials warn that there could be more snowstorms ahead, they are urging drivers to take it slow to avoid collisions. Officials are also urging them to evaluate their driving ability before risking their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

 

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