Snow, wind make traveling difficult

A long line of cars and trucks back up after a minor accident west of Lawrence Tuesday backed up traffic. A Kansas Turnpike snowplow moves down the left-hand lane in an effort to keep more motorists from suffering the same fate.

The blowing snow, slick spots on streets and crunching metal made for rude reminders that winter’s just around the corner.

“Snow shovels, ice melt, tube sand all seem to be pretty popular today,” said Scott Schmille, general manager of Westlake Ace Hardware, 601 Kasold Drive.

Only about an inch of precipitation had fallen in the area as the storm system left Douglas County on Tuesday afternoon, but freezing overnight temperatures should leave some slick spots on roads and sidewalks this morning, said Matt Elwell, 6News chief meteorologist.

The whirling, chilly winds are expected to taper off today as sunshine should break through the clouds, Elwell said. He predicted a high of 34 for today.

“The wind is going to be, in essence, light compared to (Tuesday),” Elwell said.

City crews were scheduled to continue their 24-hour operation treating streets through this morning. The overnight freeze could still create some trouble spots on hills, bridges and overpasses, said Mark Thiel, Lawrence’s assistant public works director.

“I think it’d be fair to warn that there could be some potentially slippery spots out there,” Thiel said.

Lawrence police reported 14 noninjury accidents and one injury accident in the city by mid-afternoon Tuesday. No serious injuries were reported on area highways, although law enforcement officers were kept busy with several slide-offs and fender benders.

Maritza A. Catilleja, 18, was treated and released from Lawrence Memorial Hospital after her vehicle struck a tree at 1:45 p.m. on U.S. Highway 56 west of Baldwin City.

The slick conditions and blowing snow also caused problems for drivers Tuesday on the Kansas Turnpike.

Several wrecks were reported near Lawrence exits. Turnpike dispatchers said one woman was taken to LMH after a morning wreck on Interstate 70 east of Lawrence, but additional information was unavailable Tuesday. Although officers were busy, no major injuries were reported, dispatchers said.

The snow was not deep, which apparently made some drivers think they could drive fast, a Highway Patrol supervisor said.

“I think that’s what’s causing a majority of our problems,” said Capt. John Walters, who is part of the KHP’s operations on the turnpike.