Icy roads lead to several car accidents but none on Christmas Day

MONTROSE — Slick roads contributed to several accidents leading up to the holiday weekend. However, just one accident happened between Christmas Eve and Day, and in all cases no serious injuries or fatalities were reported, officials said.

Snowfall on Christmas Day likely prevented an accident because drivers tend to slow down in such conditions, said Montrose Police Cmdr. Gene Lillard. Powder fell on the city until the late afternoon, blanketing the streets with several inches of snow. The city received a storm total of six inches on Christmas, according to a cooperative observer's report for the National Weather Service. However some neighborhoods received more.

The one reported Christmas Eve accident, which was a two-car crash on Highway 550 and Odelle Road, was probably weather related, said Lillard. A driver in the accident was ticketed for careless driving, he said.

"People need to drive with caution and slow down," Lillard said. "What usually causes a lot of the accidents is excessive speed."

In comparison to Christmas Day and Eve, the three days leading up to the holidays had a combined total of at least 13 accidents — most were weather related, Lillard said.

On Dec. 22, there were eight accidents — all related to icy road conditions — including a three-car accident on the 100 block of S. Townsend Avenue. One driver was ticketed for careless driving and driving under revocation (or with a revoked drivers license), he said. On the same day, another three-car crash on the 2200 block of S. Townsend Avenue ended with one driver being cited for an unsafe lane change, Lillard said.

In addition to the car accidents, between Dec. 21 and 23, there were at least three incidents in which a driver fled after hitting a car, he said. In a fourth incident, a driver struck a golf course fence with his car and drove off. Lillard said these accidents were likely caused, in part, by existing road conditions.

Despite the high number of car crashes, Lillard said no serious injuries or deaths occurred. "Knock on wood; we (only) had some minor scrapes and burns," he said.

As of press time, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation maintained road alerts for U.S. 550 at Molas Pass and Red Mountain Pass. Conditions were listed as slushy with icy and wet spots and snow pack. Chains, snow tires or 4 wheel-drive were recommended for all vehicles.