Posted by: thepinetree on 12/26/2007 11:51 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 12/27/2007 11:11 PM
Expires: 01/01/2012 12:00 AM
:
Hwy 4 Was A Skating Rink Out Here On Saturday ....Updated with Video
Dorrington, CA...There was a several mile stretch of Hwy 4 that could have doubled as a skating rink. All that was needed was a Zamboni and some hockey pucks. There were people stuck in traffic for hours this afternoon...The problem was that the game went into triple overtime and everyone lost with the possible exception of the Lube Room in Dorrington. We heard they were packed during the entire "Game". CHP officially was reporting 6-7 collisions but from first hand accounts we saw many more minor incidents. The skating rink reached from Arnold all the way up to Dorrington. Many residents and visitors said it was the worst conditions they had seen in many, many years..
Caltrans was obviously caught off guard by the temperature drops. Calaveras County District 3 Supervisor Merita Callaway and Alpine County Supervisor Terry Woodrow called Caltrans to see what could be done to prevent another incident like this one and to see where the counties could help out if need be.
Yes...there were the usual visitors up the hill without snow tires, 4 wheel drive or chains. But we saw many cars ready for the weather slipping like mad as well. Ice is the great equalizer it cares very little how well your vehicle is equipped or whether your vehicle cost $50,000 or $500... If you tapped the brakes too hard ABS or not you were going for a slide.
One vehicle attached to a snow truck even slid out of it's lane while being towed and started slapping oncoming cars. We heard everyone talking about...how long they were stuck, who was at fault and much more.
We were very lucky the injuries were minor or nonexistent. Many people not used to the road conditions were out of their vehicles standing on the downhill side of vehicles or in between them...Bad Idea. Once several thousand pounds of vehicle starts to slide it isn't going to stop until it finds traction or something solid to stop it.
As a general rule go slow and never stop on a hill unless absolutely necessary. Odds are that if you stop you may never get started again. It is also much better to use engine braking and not your brakes. Using your brakes will probably just make you lose control..
Our hope is that Caltrans gets a faster jump next time with consistent and frequent sanding. Our winter economy depends on efficient travel and during this it was anything but.
