It turns out Washington residents can’t drive in the snow
Feb 16, 2021, 6:50 AM | Updated: 10:03 am
One car spinout on Eastbound I-90, related to speed too fast for conditions. (Photo courtesy of Trooper Rick Johnson/Twitter)
(Photo courtesy of Trooper Rick Johnson/Twitter)
A KIRO Radio listener texted me last week as we were trying to predict the snow, and he told me he couldn’t wait for it.
Why?
He works in an auto-body shop, and he knows that snow equals dollars for his business. He’s probably full of fender benders right now.
Crashes over the weekend were up 300%, as compared to a normal weekend. There were 386 crashes in King County alone, and 196 in Snohomish County.
#UGH. My math is a tad off. Busy weekend. My Commander Captain Mead did some math for me as an assist. Let’s go with collision up just over 300%!! #Snowpocalypse2021 brain. #Be nice! Siri lied to me!!
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) February 15, 2021
State Trooper Rick Johnson points to speed and over-confidence in all-wheel drive vehicles as the main problems in most of the crashes.
“People that have these all-wheel drive vehicles, they think they’re invincible,” he said. “You can get going, but ice doesn’t care if you have 42-wheel drive.”
This is EB 90 at MP 38. No injuries. This is going to sound like a #BrokenRecord but #SlowDown #Please pic.twitter.com/iSwGqeCSkP
— Trooper Rick Johnson (@wspd2pio) February 14, 2021
There were so many crashes on I-90 on Monday that the state had to close Snoqualmie Pass overnight. It’s still closed now, from the truck stop in North Bend to Ellensburg, because of the avalanche danger.
Difficult driving in mountain passes, avalanche danger closes I-90 Snoqualmie Pass
The state is going to reassess the danger in Snoqualmie Pass at 8 a.m. Tuesday, but up to another 15 inches of snow is expected across the pass by later tonight.
Check out more of Chris’ Chokepoints.
