Area's first significant snowfall leads to slide-offs, rollovers

by John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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Slide-offs and rollover accidents in LaPorte County after first lake-effect snowstorm

Rollover accidents and slide-offs keps towing companies and 911 dispatchers busy after the area's first lake-effect snowstorm. (WSBT photo)

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Nov 18, 2008 at 5:55 PM EST

Story Updated: Nov 19, 2008 at 1:52 PM EST

LaPORTE CO. — The area's first significant snowstorm dumped nearly a foot of snow in some places. Trees and cars were covered, and major accidents were reported on the roadways.

Emergency crews and tow truck drivers lost sleep because of the number of reported rollovers and accidents.

911 dispatchers fielded dozens of weather-related calls.

A rollover accident near Highway 30 and 421 was reported after 7:30 p.m. Monday. Roads were slick and slushy from the lake-effect snowband.

"Overconfidence," said Jim Shaw. "People drove the way they normally drive on a dry road."

WSBT's StormTracker H2 drove along area roads to see the outcome of unprepared and overconfident drivers.

A red Dodge Durango was totaled after rolling over on its hood and back on its foundation again.

"The woman is OK," said Shaw. "But still lost her vehicle."

911 operators handled a call after a driver reportedly got stuck in a ditch near Highway 2, while Moore's Towing was busy throughout the night picking up vehicles involved in collisions.

"Somebody slid into somebody else," said Steve Moore, owner of Moore's Towing. "They were going just a little bit too fast."

Moore says drivers need to be careful and slow down.

The LaPorte County Sheriff's Department handled 37 weather-related incidents Monday between 2-10 p.m.

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