At least five vehicles crashed or landed in a ditch due to inclement weather Friday morning, with a number of people receiving minor injuries,
“It seems like people are always in a hurry to get somewhere when the weather’s at its worst,” Capital City Fire/Rescue assistant chief Ed Quinto said in a phone interview. “Firefighters, tow truck drivers and police have been killed on the highway by people in hurry in bad weather.”
While Juneau has not seen casualties among its emergency personnel, Quinto added, he mentioned that such events were not uncommon in other cities.
“We’ve been fortunate but it happens elsewhere almost every week,” Quinto said.
Two people were taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital for noncritical injuries from a car crash outbound near Twin Lakes early Friday, Quinto said.
(Screenshot | National Weather Service)
“The roads are being pretty crummy,” Lt. Krag Campbell of the Juneau Police Department said in a phone interview Friday. “You can still drive safely. Slowing down is the best thing. Be cautious about accelerating and braking. Maintain extra space between you and the car in front of you.”
Snow is expected to continue this weekend and beyond, with a winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service in effect through Friday evening. Temperatures are expected to breach the freezing point next week, turning back into a mix of snow and rain, according to the forecast.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
