Published: February 13, 2008 11:56 am      

Hazardous Conditions

Road crews struggle to keep up as snow blankets region

CUMBERLAND - Snow blanketed Mountain Maryland early Tuesday, creating hazardous traveling conditions throughout the region and prompting snow emergency plans to be implemented in Allegany, Garrett, Washington and Frederick counties.

By late morning, no major accidents were reported throughout the tri-state area, according to emergency centers in Allegany, Garrett and Mineral counties. Drivers on Mineral County roads were involved in a series of accidents from mid-afternoon to early evening.

Schools were canceled in Mineral, Preston, Hardy, Grant, Hampshire, Tucker, Pendleton and numerous other counties in West Virginia. Maryland schools were closed for Tuesday's primary election. Allegany College of Maryland was closed and classes at Frostburg State University were canceled at 12:30 p.m. Potomac State College canceled all classes scheduled for 1 p.m. or later. Garrett College closed for classes at 11:45 a.m.

Keyser City Police investigated a minor accident at 9:45 a.m., when a garbage collection truck slid on snow-covered Ridge Street and sideswiped Johnson's store.

"They were trying to do trash pickup when the truck slid in the snow and sideswiped the building. No one was injured," said a dispatcher at the Keyser City Police Department.

In Garrett County, two minor accidents were investigated by Maryland State Police by noon, one on snow-covered Interstate 68 at U.S. Route 219 North at Keysers Ridge and the other in the town of Accident. No injuries were reported in either mishap.

Roads throughout the region were said to be hazardous at mid-day as snow-removal crews fought to keep pace with the steady snow that accumulated several inches by noon in downtown Cumberland.

"The roads have been treated but they are snow-covered," said Sgt. James Hare at the McHenry barrack.

A State Highway Administration spokesman at Keysers Ridge said 3 inches of snow was reported throughout Garrett County by 11 a.m., as road crews worked to improve travel conditions.

"We're using salt and abrasives and bracing for freezing rain. Crews have been out since 11 p.m. Monday and we are working around the clock," said the SHA official, who said wind and snow drifts were reported at various locations in the county.

In Cumberland, streets were snow-covered by late Tuesday morning but no major accidents were reported, according to the Cumberland Police Department.

"There have been a couple minor accidents. Motorists should think ahead, slow down and be prepared to stop at intersections. Use caution according to the weather conditions," said Capt. Kevin Ogle, the department's operations supervisor.

Allegany County 911 Joint Communications Division re-ported 10 to 12 weather-related calls were logged between 7 a.m. and noon, "mostly vehicles off the road but there were no injuries in any of them," said dispatcher Sam Dudley.

Due to the large volume of calls inquiring of road and weather conditions received Tuesday, Maryland State Police urge residents to either call (800) 327-3125 or log on to www.chart.state.md.us for updated weather and road conditions.

The Allegany County Department of Social Services was open for business Tuesday despite having a problem with its heating system. Normal business hours are expected today. The agency was closed Monday due to an electrical outage, according to an agency spokesman.