Winter Storm Sparta Blamed for 4 Deaths on Dangerous Roads

March 1,2015



 

Winter Storm Sparta continues to cause a travel nightmare in several states, and it is being blamed for at least four deaths on dangerous roads.
A 28-year-old man died after crashing on a snowy Interstate 70 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sunday morning.
Two people died after a collision on snowy roads Saturday afternoon in Laclede County, Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said.
Westbound Interstate 44 remains closed after a large pileup involving several semis, cars and a Greyhound Bus Saturday afternoon near Rolla, Missouri.
In Marshall County, Oklahoma, a driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into another car, killing one passenger and critically injuring another Friday afternoon, NewsOK reports.
(FORECAST: Winter Storm Sparta)
Hundreds of flights were canceled at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport because of poor weather.
Here are the latest impacts from Sparta:

Missouri

Snowy roads led to at least two deaths Saturday afternoon. A driver and one of his passengers died after he lost control of his car and crashed into another vehicle.
Overnight into Sunday, at least six crashes happened after cars attempted to pass snow plow crews, Fox 2 reports.
Missouri Highway Patrol reported the east and westbound lanes of Interstate 44 were closed Saturday afternoon due to a large accident involving upwards of 25 vehicles. Sunday morning, westbound I-44 remains closed.
Cleanup crews responded to the scene as a tractor-trailer carrying hazardous materials overturned, Phelps County Sheriff Rick Lisenbe noted.

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Earlier today there were several major accidents near the 184 mm of I-44. Dozens of people have been transported to local hospitals. In addition one tractor trailer was carrying hazardous materials. This scene will take hours to clear.
A hazardous materials cleanup team is enroute.
A transport bus was involved in this accident and several additional patients were transported.

Fire EMS and law enforcement remain on the scene

At least 11 people were injured as a result of the accident, but none of the injuries were life-threatening.
Two children were transported to the hospital Saturday afternoon after a crash involving multiple vehicles, KYTV-TV reported. A pickup truck pulled off U.S. Route 60 west of Springfield to assist a car on the shoulder when a third vehicle slid down the hill, striking the others, police said.
ABC 33 reports that hundreds lost power Saturday afternoon after a car crashed into a utility pole.

Pennsylvania 

A 28-year-old man died after losing control of his car on a snowy road and crashing on Interstate 70 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Action News 4 reports.
The latest round of winter weather has also caused numerous travel problems in Philadelphia, including the cancellation of hundreds of flights.
Philadelphia International Airport said 149 arrivals and 143 departures had been reported canceled as of 2:30 p.m. Sunday. According to CBS Philadelphia, airport officials also said the Federal Aviation Administration had issued arrival delays for flights averaging more than four hours due to snow and ice.
A car crash in Philadlephia's in Fairmount Park occurred amid icy conditions at 3:30 p.m. Sunday . The driver of the car lost control and the vehicle knocked down a light pole, 6ABC.com reported. It is not yet known if anyone was injured in the accident.

North Carolina

Icy roads and bridges are making travel difficult in North Carolina Sunday.
On I-540, at least 13 cars slid off the icy road, but no injuries were reported, according to WRAL.
The National Weather Service reports slide-offs and collisions on I-85 and I-95.

Arizona

Sparta could be the biggest winter storm of the season for northern Arizona. Gas stations around Flagstaff are displaying sleds and winter gear for expected crowds of snow revelers. Residents are stocking up on heat sources and being encouraged to prepare for travel by having a full tank of gas, extra clothing and plenty of food and water.
If you’re driving this weekend, you should check real-time weather conditions on the Arizona Department of Transportation website. The department has sent some snow plow drivers from Tucson to Flagstaff and Holbrook, and asked motorists to give them room to do their jobs.
"If the roads are bad, stay home," said department spokesman Doug Pacey. "But if you have to be out on the roads, plan ahead."

Indiana

Indiana State Police troopers responded to accidents across Indianapolis Saturday night, WISH-TV said. Hazardous roads led to slide-offs in Monroe County.
Speeding and slick conditions contributed to an accident Saturday night in Northwest Indianapolis, WTHR-TV reported. Some churches are also closing in anticipation of inclement weather.

New Mexico

Several roadways were closed in Albuquerque Friday evening, allowing snow plows to clear hazardous snow and ice, KOB-TV reported.
Albuquerque police were flooded with emergency calls Friday evening and are no longer responding to non-injury incidents, KOB says. They are asking motorists to stay off the roads unless necessary.
The Albuquerque public school system closed all of its schools after the storm covered roads with ice and snow. City police reported that road conditions were terrible Friday, particularly on Coors Boulevard near I-40. Highways with severe or difficult driving conditions Friday morning included a 161-mile stretch of Interstate 25 between Glorieta and Raton Pass in northern New Mexico and a 155-mile stretch of Interstate 40 between Milagro and the Texas line.
The state Department of Transportation said crews were plowing, salting and cindering.

New York

In preparation for Sparta's arrival, the New York City Office of Emergency Management today issued a travel advisory for a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain Sunday through Monday morning. The NYC Department of Sanitation has also issued a snow alert and deployed 500 salt spreaders across the five boroughs to treat arterial highways, bus routes, school streets and hilly roads, according to a release.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged residents to exercise caution, especially during the Monday morning commute. "We hope, we hope that there will be minimal impact on the morning commute, but again we're going to be monitoring very, very closely," he said. "I want everyone to exercise caution."

Oklahoma

Emergency crews were called to an accident involving a train and three vehicles Sunday afternoon. According to Lt. Kevin Parton of Oklahoma City Police, one car got stuck while crossing the tracks as a result of ice and snow on the road. The train applied brakes but was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision. Officials say one person suffered minor injury."It's unusual to have a train versus vehicle accident and have everyone walk away," Lt. Parton told KFOR.

On Friday afternoon, A driver lost control of his vehicle on U.S. 377, killing one passenger and critically injuring another.
State emergency crews responded to many other weather-related incidents Friday, including traffic accidents, slips or falls and an exposure incident, News 9 reported.
One driver was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries Friday night after sliding on a patch of ice and colliding with a semi-truck on I-35, News 9 says. The accident briefly shut down the road.
The EMSA responded to 29 accidents on various roadways, News On 6 reported.
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation treated hazardous roadways across the state Friday night, focusing primarily on those in the eastern region of the state, the DOT said in a road conditions update.

Texas

Early Saturday morning, a Dallas police officer was injured after losing control of their car on ice and hitting another vehicle, WFAA reports.
Sparta is already hampering weekend travel in North Texas. Nearly 500 flights have been canceled out of DFW International Airport Saturday morning, FlightAware says.
The Associated Press reports that around 5,000 travelers spent the night at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport after their flights were canceled.
Icy roads continued to caused problems for commuters in Dallas:

  CBSDFW        ✔ @CBSDFW Follow

@DallasPD reporting 86 minor wrecks, 47 major crashes and 46 freeway accidents since midnight.

11:27 AM - 28 Feb 2015

A multivehicle crash on snow-covered roads in Melissa, Texas, shut down U.S. Highway 75 southbound Friday and left two people injured. Texas Department of Transportation cameras showed snow-covered roads filled with bumper-to-bumper traffic.
"Snow was reported in the area around the time of the incident, along with fog, and visibilities were down to 0.25 mile in spots," weather.com meteorologist Linda Lam said.
Around 10 a.m. local time, just as heavy snow from Winter Storm Sparta began to fall in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, at least 15 vehicles collided and slid off the highway.

Carla N. Wade @CarlaNWade

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Vehicles in ditch after multi car wreck 75 s of Melissa. Several taken to hospital w/minor injuries. #wfaaweather

1:53 PM - 27 Feb 2015

Schools across north Texas closed early in response to the storm.
The Dallas Morning News reports that over 1,000 customers lost electricity after snow started to fall on DFW.

Maryland

On Sunday, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced the city’s snow team is fully deployed for the winter storm. The Maryland Department of Transportation says crews are actively treating highways with salt and will plow if needed.

  Mayor Rawlings-Blake        ✔ @MayorSRB Follow

Today’s forecast calls for snow and freezing rain. Our snow team will be fully deployed with 240 pieces of equipment and contractor forces.

7:15 AM - 1 Mar 2015

Residents are being warned that aside from complicating travel, ice and freezing rain may affect power lines and cause power outages, according to CBS Baltimore. The Maryland Public Service Commission has been in contact with utility companies, who will be making repairs as necessary.
MORE: Winter Storm Sparta in Photos