The winter’s first statewide snowstorm blanketed roadways Tuesday, bringing with it hazardous driving conditions but few weather-related accidents.
In Oxford, the first accident of the day happened around 7 a.m., according to Sgt. Alan Coffin of the Oxford Police Department. There were no injuries and no damage when a car slid off Route 26 and into a ditch. He said he expected many more similar calls as the day progressed.
“I’ve got my traffic vest on just waiting for the next one,” he said at about 8 a.m. from the Police Department’s front office.
By 3:30 p.m., however, Coffin reported only one other incident in Oxford where a minivan slid off Mechanic Falls Road. There was no damage or injuries reported.
“There’s been a lot of plow trucks out sanding and plowing, so that’s a good thing. I think they were ready for it,” Coffin said, adding that he was still wary of what might happen during the evening commute when traffic picked up and temperatures would begin to fall.
In Norway, the first weather-related accident call came in around 10:15 a.m. for a rollover near 461 Waterford Road. A small pickup truck coming down a hill flipped over into the ditch on the opposite side of the road. The driver and the passenger were able to get out and were not injured. Police, fire and ambulance crews were at the scene, though the ambulance left shortly after arriving when it was determined that the occupants were not hurt.
Paris reported tractor-trailers having problems on Route 17 over Streaked Mountain on Tuesday morning.
Police offered standard advice for the road conditions.
“Drive slow. Make sure your windshield is clear,” Oxford Police Chief Jonathan Tibbetts said.
Other advice included giving adequate time to reach destinations and stay home unless absolutely necessary.
Officer Robbie Federico of the Norway Police Department said the weather changing from snow to sleet to freezing rain and then back to snow complicated driving conditions. Highway crews were out in full force as the snow began Tuesday morning trying to stay ahead of the wintry mess.
However, police said overall it was relatively quiet, which they attributed to school vacation.
Mexico Police Chief Roy Hodsdon said the roads were “pretty bad” in that area, with sleet starting to mix in with the snow that has already fallen.
“There haven’t been any accidents yet, knock on wood,” Hodsdon said early Tuesday. “People seem to be realizing the roads aren’t good and are staying inside.”
Dixfield Police Chief Jeff Howe said that at 5 a.m., officer Anne Simmons-Edmunds responded to a truck that veered off Canton Point Road.
“There was some damage to the truck, but the operator wasn’t hurt,” Howe said.
At 1:10 p.m., Howe said officers responded to a car that slid off Route 2. The car was undamaged, Howe said, and the operator was able to get his car back on the road and drive off a few minutes later.
“The roads have been slick, as expected, but there haven’t been any big incidents,” Howe said. “There hasn’t been a whole lot of traffic out there, and those who are driving seem to be going pretty slow.”
mjerkins@sunmediagroup.net
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