Posted on 12/23/2022 7:50:15 PM PST by EBH
Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, turnpike personnel and first responders from several agencies remain on the scene hours after a multi-vehicle crash on the Ohio Turnpike left four dead and many injured Friday afternoon.
As of 9:10 p.m., 15 commercial vehicles are being cleared from the roadway. The crash happened eastbound between State Route 53 and State Route 4 in Sandusky County and eventually stretched into Erie County.
Forty-six vehicles were involved in the crash, according to OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura. At least three of the four victims were in different vehicles, and none of their identities have been released.
Officials have gone through the scene and are finishing a second sweep while removing cars, Purpura said.
The exact number of injuries has not yet been determined.
The turnpike remains closed in the area of the crash and officials are uncertain of when it may reopen.
Weather factored into the crash, OSHP confirmed. Everyone involved in the crash has been bussed to a facility to stay warm in the frigid temperatures.
The rescue effort has continued through white-out conditions.
Because the Ohio Turnpike is closed in both directions, eastbound traffic is being diverted off at exit 91 at State Route 53. Westbound traffic is being diverted off at exit 118 at State Route 250.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming
We’re finally on our own
This summer, I hear the drumming
Four dead in Ohio
Four dead in Ohio (four)
Four dead in Ohio (four)
Wednesday, on a dry highway with miles of visibility and no precipitation, for no apparent reason, both I70 W/E had multiple severe crashes.
I couldn’t even get out of my lane until 9PM due to people detouring to avoid the shut down interstates by using RT 40.
It’s as if everyone driving that day/night collectively lost their marbles all at once.
No one working the rescue crews can even begin to explain it.
Mass craziness.
daughter, wife and I all made an extra effort Thursday to avoid the weather in Ohio.
....................
Planning will do a great deal, but family often puts constraints upon it. I went down this past week to see my parents and sisters in central Ohio on a fairly tight timeline, driving in a big circle with the middle of lake Erie as a centre and a starting pont two hours northwest of Ottawa. Southwestern Ontario can be treacherous, and I made sure that I pressed on to an end point that had cleared most of that. The five hours Thursday morning were still nasty, but people in and from North of Toronto can handle nasty.
Avoided all white out.
They were warned, but were probably of the *they always exaggerate. It’s just another winter storm. A big nothing burger based on fear mongering* types like we have on FR, so they stupidly ventured out in the storm and unprepared for it.
I've only had this hit me full force one time fortunately. I was driving from Atlanta to Ottawa, ON in early January. Nissan Xterra, Offroad model with BFG AT tires so wasn't particularly worried about snow capabilities.
IIRC the towns correctly, at Syracuse, NY there were flurries and accumulation showing up. Watertown, NY was the destination and I had a hotel reservation lined up.
North of Syracuse, snow got heavier and eventually closed down to a single track in the right lane. No problem. Running 40-45 mph with the semis, no one with any brains passing anybody.
About 10-15 miles from my Watertown, NY destination, I ran into a wall of lake effect snow. Visibility slammed down to <100ft. My reaction? Get Off This Damn Highway.
Immediately, went by 1 overpass and semis already had it occupied. Kept going. Visibility dropped further. Drove a few miles more and a second exit showed up plus a Watertown exit was on the sign. Semis fully occupied the exit shoulder and when I got to the stop sign saw that they filled up the the entry ramp shoulders as well. Still no place to safely stop.
Sign said turn right to Watertown so I turned right and flipped on 4wd. Duh, hindsight is marvelous. Wish I had just figgered out a way to stop where I was. Turned out this routed me towards the old, pre-interstate highway to Watertown. Snow towards 8-12in and building. Never needed the locker.
I traveled about 10 miles at 5-10mph before breaking out of the snow wall. Most of time, I had rarely had an idea where the road was looking toward. I oriented by looking right to see the ditch, fence line, reflectors, anything. Only saw 1 other vehicle and that was 50-75ft away before his lights penetrated through the snow.
Broke out of the snow wall near the Watertown city limits, made it to the hotel and and had a meal and beverage at the bar. The morning arrived bright and sunny, roads cleared and smooth driving other than a couple hours at Canadian customs.-
As far as winter traveling, I was fully prepared I think. Proper kind of vehicle & tires, clothes, -20F sleeping bag, water & food. All check down to -40F antifreeze. Did I make the right decisions? Maybe, maybe not. White knuckle experience I hope no one else gets into.
Long distance driving in winter snow country is not a trivial thing. It’s worse if on a schedule going from point A to B.
It always amazes me how people continue to drive at or over the speed limit when the roads are covered with snow.
Especially 18 wheelers. I know they sometimes have a time schedule they have to meet to get paid enough to continue working and paying for their rig, but 70 MPH on snow covered rods is practically suicidal.
they did the same on horse back and carriage... id say theyve been doing it since offspring moved out and strated their own elsewhere.
and here have been a billions of successful trips as well... like most acidents, it was probably some 4 wheeler doing excessive slow speed in the hammer lane or some other idiot distraced texting or watching a friggin movie on their navigator screen.
I’m alone most holidays but I sure as hell dont blame those who go out of their way to visit on holidays for the accidents that occur. I blame the stupid people. once upon a time that was what it was all about!! Grinch...
and there have been*
In my neck of the Upstate NY woods there are more crashes weekly than I have ever seen before, and I’m a lifer.
This is in good weather.
And since the lockdown.
Too many drivers thinking traffic laws and the laws of physics don’t apply to them.
Then there’s law enforcement, for a number of reasons, refusing to enforce traffic law.
Now add in bad weather...
I’m amazed traffic accidents and fatalities weren’t worse.
I’ve been stranded there myself in a blizzard. It isn’t fun.
Our parents lived where they wanted to. I think we have that same choice.
My parents lived south of Buffalo where the annual snowfall is over 100” and I chose to move to Florida. I think I made a good choice.
I cancelled my round trip Christmas Eve drive Cleveland/Toledo on TUESDAY. I think my family was annoyed at the time but now I’m glad I made the decision.
I have experience being in white outs driving 70mph on the Ohio Turnpike. They seemingly come out of nowhere and are lethal. It’s too risky driving through these conditions on the highway.
You did...
NYS Thruway Authority
@NYSThruway
The Thruway remains closed from exit 46 to the PA line and I-190 from I-90 to exit 22. Blizzard conditions continue today.
5:50 AM · Dec 24, 2022
Well, the Weather Channel does have a tendency to cry “Wolf!” way too often...
“Why disperse? For a sushi restaurant or Thailand food? Big whoop.”
Doubtful that families relocate to get good sushi. More like going where the jobs are.
Ideally, we could go back to where families were geographically close for many generations. Modes of travel and new technology have changed that.
Visiting my mom, where the family has lived since the 1700s is great. Family is everywhere — even family you don’t know. It’s comforting in a way. (And when you meet a guy in town, and he asks you out, confirm that he’s not a distant cousin. I learned that in the ‘60s — LOL!)
In related news, there were crashes on I94 near Benton Harbor, MI. The first was a 9 truck pileup, then a 7 car pileup. Fortunately, no one was killed.
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