A third punch of snow overnight in Carson City brought a few spinouts, minor accidents, downed power lines and traffic delays this morning. In one accident, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper sustained injuries after a car lost control and slid into his parked SUV.
The patrolman was investigating a single-vehicle accident on southbound Highway 395, just past the exit to North Carson Street, NHP Trooper Chuck Allen reports. While he was waiting for a tow truck to remove the damaged vehicle in that single-vehicle crash, and while sitting in his NHP Ford Expedition, another motorist traveling southbound lost control of her Subaru station wagon and subsequently struck the rear of the SUV.
The trooper, 11-year veteran Chris Austin, sustained injuries to his neck and head and was transported from the scene to Carson Tahoe Hospital. He was treated and released and will be off duty for several days recovering, Allen said. The driver who struck his vehicle was not injured.
“As a reminder to all motorists, when you see an emergency vehicle that is stopped with its flashing red and blue lights on, the traffic law clearly states that you must reduce your vehicle’s speed to less than the posted speed limit and move over one lane on a multiple-lane roadway when it is feasible to do so,” Allen said.
The city’s public works department along with fire and sheriff’s personnel remained busy this morning dealing with the aftermath of the storms, and are preparing for the the next one, which is expected to land in the region late tonight.
City fire and sheriff’s departments report a few minor fender-benders this morning but no serious-injury accidents. Meanwhile, there are four homes without power, and a care facility in brown-out mode in the area of Nye and Mountain streets after tree limbs struck some power lines, reports Dan Shirey, battalion chief for the Carson City Fire Department.
“It is the typical beginning of winter season related stuff,” Shirey said. “There wasn’t so much slipping and sliding this morning but as the weather gets colder, (motorists) can expect more black ice on the roads. Once that realization hits, we usually see people starting to slow down and begin to adapt to the winter conditions.”
Meanwhile the fourth storm is expected to move into the area later tonight, this one bringing much colder weather with it. A winter storm warning will go into effect from 10 tonight until 4 a.m. Tuesday morning for the Carson City region.
According to the National Weather Service and Carsonweather.com, heavy snow and gusty winds will arrive late tonight and early Tuesday as a a strong arctic cold front moves through the region.
Blowing snow and whiteout conditions are possible with the frontal passage. Travel in the Sierra and portions of Western Nevada be impacted at times through Tuesday night. Motorists should stay prepared for winter driving conditions.
Up to four inches of snow may fall in the valleys, with an additional 8 to 14 inches at lake level and up to 2 feet above 7,000 feet, according to the weather service. Wind gusts could be up to 45 mph.
