South Whidbey drivers confident enough to venture out of their homes last Saturday faced icy roads and potential accidents.
In fact, 18 wrecks occurred due to the snowfall across the South End from the morning to early afternoon, according to Lt. Evan Tingstad of the Sheriff’s Office South Precinct.
Of the various accidents, only two people were transported to WhidbeyHealth to evaluate neck pain. There were no serious injuries.
“The collisions ranged from a half dozen on Highway 525 from Greenbank to Bayview and the rest were spread out, with a couple on East Harbor Road, Mutiny Bay Road and Bush Point Road,” Tingstad said. “Cars were just having trouble keeping traction.”
The two injuries took place at the same location, at the intersection of Classic Road and Honeymoon Bay Road. Tingstad said a steep hill coming down Classic Road towards the intersection was slick, and caused both vehicles to lose traction, skid across the intersection and come to a stop in an embankment.
“There’s a noticeable decline going toward the intersection,” Tingstad said.
The first wreck involving an injury occurred around 2 p.m. when a white 2014 Silverado stopped in the embankment. Tingstad said the vehicle had to stay put because it wasn’t safe the tow the vehicle due to the nearby intersection and icy roads. A 25-year-old female passenger was transported to WhidbeyHealth.
The second injury happened around 3:15 p.m. when a 2014 green Subaru Forester also lost traction coming down Classic Road. The vehicle went into the same embankment and rolled on top of the temporarily abandoned Silverado. The car was carrying four passengers, but only a 35-year-old passenger was transported to WhidbeyHealth to examine neck pain.
Drivers also found Bush Point Road near the intersection with Mutiny Bay Road particularly difficult to navigate. Tingstad said numerous cars lost traction and slid off the road. Many of the vehicles were abandoned for a few hours until private tows were arranged once the roads were less slick. The number of abandoned cars wasn’t confirmed.
Other minor wrecks involved fender benders and cars in embankments. A Record reporter was even involved in a fender bender.
