First major snowfall bring slick roads, rash of accidents

The storm last weekend that dropped about five inches of snow in Lincoln resulted in a handful of slide-offs and accidents along Highway 200 in the Upper Blackfoot.

Lincoln Fire Rescue and the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance started Saturday morning off with a 5 a.m. call concerning an accident about 16 miles west of Lincoln, between the Highway 141 intersection and Browns Lake, but both were called off before leaving Lincoln because other responders were already on scene.

A second crash closer to Lincoln saw a semi slide off Highway 200 about four miles west of Lincoln near Lone Point just before 9 a.m., but the incident didn't require a response from Lincoln emergency services

By 11:30 a.m., however, Lincoln Fire Rescue personnel were headed east to respond to an accident on the far side of Roger's Pass, after an eastbound van apparently hit a slick spot, spun around and slid across the highway before coming to rest along the north side of the road, facing west.

The crash resulted in one minor injury. An ambulance from an unidentified location that was heading west over the pass stopped to render assistance until the Lincoln Volunteer Ambulance arrived to transport the injured person to the hospital. The Fire Department's newer Rescue Response Truck also saw service, providing support for the emergency personnel and shelter for the other occupants of the van. Ken Crymble said he really appreciated the vehicle, which LVFD received from the Helena Fire Department last October. He said that it is a much easier vehicle to use for such a response, compared to the department's main fire engine that had filled the role before.

A fourth vehicle accident at about 6:15 p.m. near Abe Lincoln Road east of Lincoln resulted in no injuries.

Sunday only saw one reported accident, just east of Lincoln. A vehicle slid off the highway near the Blackfoot Valley Bible Church. Assistant Fire Chief Derek Perez said Fire Chief Zach Muse was able to pull the vehicle out of the ditch.

Perez said he was actually surprised there weren't more accidents, given the road conditions over the weekend.

Nevertheless, he reminds drivers to slow down in snowy conditions.

"The biggest thing is your speed," he said, adding drivers should also make sure to switch out their summer tires for winter tires and check the road reports.

The incident on Rogers Pass also prompted Perez to remind drivers to pull over for emergency vehicles and slow down at emergency scenes. He noted that drivers passed the accident scene at speeds that were too fast for the situation.