SAN JUAN COUNTY — Three straight days of snowy and icy roads have taken a toll on local drivers. As of Wednesday afternoon, 134 minor accidents were reported countywide.
Only 14 of those accidents had reported injuries, most of which did not even require a hospital visit via ambulance, said Daryl Branson, of the San Juan Communications Authority, which operates emergency dispatch.
"Most of these have been very minor accidents," he said.
In contrast, a clear-skied, three-day period may yield just 10 to 15 accidents, Branson said
"When it snows like this and the roads turn icy, it gets a little crazy," he said.
The icy conditions proved to be a hazard for more than just vehicles.
San Juan Regional Medical Center emergency room managers reported treating between 20 and 30 patients each day this week for injuries suffered after slipping on the ice, hospital spokesman Dennis Mathis said.
"Most of them were just talking about twisted ankles," Branson said of the 12 who needed an ambulance to get to the hospital. "There were a couple of people who hit their head, which can be serious injuries."
Since Monday, Farmington has received about 7 inches of snow, National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Guyer said. That amount accounts for more than half of the area's yearly snowfall average of 12 inches.
But after Wednesday's afternoon snow, the area is expected to be clear through the rest of the weekend, Guyer said.
"I would expect a slow melting of the snow through the weekend, and probably by Monday, any locations that are in the sun won't have any snow on the ground anymore," Guyer said.
But the snow masked by shade will remain an ice hazard, he said.
"Those (icy) areas in the shade are just not going to warm up," Guyer said. "Those areas will stay slick if they haven't been treated."
Local officials still suggest drivers slow down and remain cautious on area roads.
source-http://www.daily-times.com
By James Monteleone The Daily Times
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