Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008

Cold, ice take toll on drivers

ROADS: Better conditions for travel expected today

Cold, icy conditions Friday made for trouble on roads from the Northern San Joaquin Valley to the Sierra.

Friday morning, three accidents occurred south of Ceres because of ice that formed on county roads, although none resulted in serious injury, the California Highway Patrol said. About 9 a.m., a vehicle overturned in an orchard on Keyes Road, west of Moffett Road. From 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., the CHP responded to two other vehicles that spun out in that area.

Ice and snow were a problem for motorists traveling to Sierra recreation spots. Several spinouts occurred as drivers made their way up the Twain Harte grade on Highway 108.

The CHP required eastbound 108 motorists to put chains on at Twain Harte because of a layer of ice on the road. Several spinouts also occurred on Highway 4 near Arnold and Highway 88 near Pioneer. Chain controls were in place at those two locations, as well.

"We've had a large volume of people coming up, and a couple of times we had to block off the slow lane (on Highway 108), so people could get their chains on," said officer Tom Wills of the CHP's Sonora office.

The CHP expected better traveling conditions in the mountains today, but motorists should be careful.

"They need to take their time getting to where they are going," Wills said. "Don't get into a big hurry."

On a rainy Christmas morning, a 21-year-old driver of a pickup died after crashing into a tree in the Mariposa area. The man's name was not released by authorities. The CHP said the truck was going east on Darrah Road, west of Montana Del Oro Drive, before 7:30 a.m. when it crossed the westbound lane, went down an embankment and struck the tree.

The driver was wearing a seat belt and the truck's air bags inflated, but the force of the impact killed the driver at the scene. Officers were trying to determine how fast the truck was traveling.

Bee staff writer Ken Carlson can be reached at kcarlson@modbee.com or 578-2321.