More Than 100 Hampton Roads Snow Crashes Are Reported

Hampton Roads snow crashes again clogged roads as the area was hit by a severe blizzard on Wednesday night and Thursday.

Not all drivers chose to stay off the roads as the blizzard dumped as much as 10 inches of snow on Southside Hampton Roads. Corinne Geller of Virginia State Police said 118 crashes were reported in the Tidewater area by Thursday morning, leaving 121 disabled vehicles. Hampton Roads often dominates the crash tally after snow falls.

From 8 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday, the state police’s Chesapeake Division, saw the most crashes in the state. The division covers the seven cities of Hampton Roads, Williamsburg, Franklin, and Emporia.

Statewide, Virginia State Police responded to 226 traffic crashes and 171 disabled vehicles.

Although local authorities have been applying sand and salt, many smaller roads were still untreated as of Thursday afternoon. You should stay off the roads of Tidewaterunless it’s absolutely necessary.

In Suffolk, 550 tons of salt and sand were applied, as of 5:30 a.m., according to a news release. Suffolk police attended about a dozen crashes since Wednesday night.

In Portsmouth, police responded to 30 crashes and 20 stranded vehicles left by drivers on main roads overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Hampton Roads snow crashes are common when the area is hit by winter storms. Often drivers in the Tidewater area are unfamiliar with driving in snowy conditions and get into trouble.

City spokesman Dana Woodson reported 10 to 14 inches of snow on the ground. Roads that were plowed quickly became covered in snow again. However, the snow stopped falling by Thursday afternoon.

In Portsmouth, public works cleared off bridges, primary roads, and streets leading to fire stations and hospitals.

Ice, as well as snow, has been reported in some areas. WAVY.com reported on a thin layer of ice that was making conditions treacherous on Virginia Beach Boulevard. Virginia Beach Public Works officials said the wind was blowing the snow back onto to the roads after they were plowed through by crews.

Cars became struck at the intersection of Virginia Beach Boulevard and Independence Boulevard. Plow trucks created snow drifts and smaller cars trying to pass got stuck.

In Hampton on the Peninsula, drifts were seen along Mercury Boulevard, leading some drivers to stall and get stuck.

VDOT reported hazardous icy conditions at all the major bridges, including the James River Bridge linking Newport News to the Isle of Wight.

National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Rusanek said:

“The pre-treated roads, that will melt snow. Everything else is sticking around.”

The Daily Press reported several ambulances returning from calls in Hampton got stuck in the snow early Thursday. They were assisted by firefighters in four-wheel-drive trucks.

“Hampton Battalion Fire Chief Anthony Chittum said some of the ambulances were not coping well with the snow. Large pick-ups were sent on ambulance calls to help them out.

Please stay at home unless you really have to go out on the roads. If you have been hit by another driver and hurt, call Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers at (757) 455-0077.