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Winter Weather Blamed For Dozens Of Crashes, Closings

Police agencies throughout Chautauqua County responded Thursday for a variety of incidents, from car crashes to overturned trucks. Pictured is the aftermath of a motor vehicle crash in Thursday in Sinclairville. P-J photo by Dan Kohler

Dozens of drivers found themselves stuck in ditches or in minor accidents following a wintery blast Thursday.

Police agencies and emergency personnel throughout Chautauqua County responded to dozens of incidents which involved cars, trucks and even a school bus. No serious injuries were reported, though police continued to respond late Thursday night.

Notable accidents included a school bus sliding off Route 62 in Dayton around 3 p.m. According to Capt. Eric Balon of the State Police, 31 children were on the bus, though none were reportedly injured.

The Findley Lake Fire Department saw one of its trucks damaged in a crash. Balon said the fire truck was responding to a property damage accident at 3:30 p.m. when the driver lost control on the snow-covered roadway and struck a vehicle in front of the Findley Lake Post Office.

He said there had been accidents throughout the day due to slippery road conditions, but none of the incidents were too serious.

“We’ve had a lot of fender benders and cars off the road,” he said.

The adverse weather conditions were not a surprise to the state police, he said, noting they were prepared for the winter storm.

“We are prepared to deal with anything,” Balon said. “I have people running the main roads and the secondary roads, and we’ve also brought down three snowmobiles just incase they are needed. We are storing them at the Fredonia barracks.”

He said the state police were aware of the impending storm and put on extra patrols for safety purposes. Balon said it is important for motorists to be aware of their surroundings when driving in snow.

“Right now, for a storm like this, we’ve always said you can wait until after the storm,” Balon said. “If you absolutely have to go, leave with extra time. Hopefully everyone gets to their destinations safely, but if anyone runs into problems, we’re out there trying to do what we can to help.”

State Police offer a few tips for motorists traveling in snowy conditions. They advise drivers to be aware of local weather forecasts before leaving, completely clean windows and mirrors of snow and ice, keep a full tank of gas, make sure fluid levels are sufficient and make sure the spare tire is sufficient. It is also helpful to make sure there is a jack and a wheel wrench in your vehicle.

Headlights should be used at all times, do not use cruise control and make sure to decrease speed when necessary. The state police also advise that motorists keep a look out for events further down the road way and make sure they are aware of maintenance vehicles and emergency vehicles.

If a motorist is involved in a collision or if your vehicle leaves the roadway, police advise occupants to stay in the vehicle and call 911. Unless it is an emergency, it is important not to exit the vehicle as it puts the occupants at risk of being struck by another vehicle. It is also important to roll the windows down a few inches or turn off the vehicle if it is stranded in snow for some time with the vehicle running.

If the vehicle is stranded on the thruway or another roadway, be aware of your location by noticing the mile post markers and the direction you are traveling in. This allows emergency personnel to reach the vehicle in a timely fashion.

The National Weather Service in Buffalo issued a Lake Effect Snow Warning for Chautauqua County beginning Thursday and ending Saturday at 6 a.m.

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