Ice Ain’t Too Nice for Driving: For Second Time in Week, Residents Deal With Hazardous Conditions.
By Rebecca Bria, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Feb. 2–Freezing rain, sleet and snow once again caused icy conditions Friday morning in the Wyoming Valley and surrounding areas. Schools and colleges canceled classes and police responded to motor vehicle accidents on local streets and the interstates due to the slick roads.
It was the second time this week that residents dealt with the icy conditions as a similar scenario unfolded in the region on Tuesday.
The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory through 6 p.m. Friday, though freezing rain changed to “all rain” in the afternoon as temperatures rose above freezing.
But, the weather forecast is looking up; today is expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 45 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
In one of those mishaps, state police said Monita Chon Sam, 29, of Kingston, was operating a 1999 Lexus SUV at 5:30 a.m. Friday on the Interstate 81 northbound on-ramp from Route 309 in Plains Township when she lost control while attempting to negotiate a left curve on the ice-covered road. The vehicle, which rolled over and came to a rest on its left side against an embankment, sustained severe damage. Sam complained of neck pain and was transported by ambulance to Geisinger Wyoming Valley, where she was treated then released, police said.
According to the Wilkes-Barre Police, a motorist struck a telephone pole Friday morning at the intersection of Blackman and Spruce streets. No injuries were reported and when police arrived, no vehicles were on scene. Verizon Communications was called to replace the damaged pole.
Televised reports said a tractor-trailer jackknifed, causing a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Dunmore near the interchange with Interstates 84 and 380.
Dr. Eric Nazziola, director/chairman of the emergency department at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, said Friday was slow compared to Tuesday. Nazziola saw several car accident victims Friday. But on Tuesday, he said 81 of the 155 patients seen in the emergency room had trauma-related injuries. Most of them were due to the icy weather.
“It’s a tremendous number,” Nazziola said. “I don’t think it’s ever been like that, ever.”
To accommodate the increase in patients in the emergency room on Tuesday, Nazziola says the hospital had to open an outpatient area used on the weekends.
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“It’s a tremendous number. I don’t think it’s ever been like that, ever.”
Dr. Eric Nazziola On ice-related injuries on Tuesday at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital
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