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Slick roads snare unwary motorists

Carrie ClickPost Independent Staff

GLENWOOD SPRINGS – Tuesday’s welcome winter storm brought much-needed snow to the region – as well as several car accidents.Cathy DeJulio, highway maintenance supervisor with the Colorado Department of Transportation, counted three weather-related accidents in Glenwood Canyon Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported.DeJulio said all the accidents were single-vehicle mishaps.”They were a result of individual cars slipping on icy roads,” she said.One accident took place at 7:30 a.m. at milepost 123, when an eastbound vehicle slid off the road near Shoshone Dam. One lane of eastbound traffic was closed for less than a half hour so the vehicle could be removed from the highway. DeJulio said during winter snowstorms, it’s common in Glenwood Canyon for accidents to occur during morning hours. After a cold night, much of the interstate in that stretch is shaded by the canyon’s walls, keeping ice on the roads longer. DeJulio said after Tuesday morning, there were no reports of any other accidents in Glenwood Canyon.”It seems like everybody is slowing down,” she said Tuesday afternoon. “Generally, it looks like people are driving pretty cautious.” And although there were at least two accidents reported Tuesday morning on Highway 82, Lt. Bill Kimminau of the Glenwood Springs Police Department said only one accident was reported in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday. “Most of the snow and ice had melted off roads before the heavy traffic hit this morning,” he said. Kimminau advised motorists to “slow down and allow extra space and time” when driving in snowy conditions. And he said drivers with four-wheel drive vehicles need to remember it still takes the same amount of time to brake with their vehicles as it does with a two-wheel vehicle.”A lot of people not used to four-wheel drive vehicles may get a false sense of security,” Kimminau said. “An SUV can slide just as easily as a two-wheel drive car when braking on slippery, wet roads.”Contact Carrie Click: 945-8515, ext. 518cclick@postindependent.comWinter driving tips-Keep your gas tank full. The extra weight can give you better traction. -Be sure you have good tires. The Colorado State Patrol recommends at least 1/8 inch tread depth. -In poor visibility or whiteout conditions, don’t drive faster than you can see ahead. High speeds in poor or no visibility can lead to large chain reaction accidents. Remember, you can’t see around mountain curves and corners either. -Respect winter weather and leave extra space between your automobile and others on the road.Source: Colorado Department of Transportation


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