Wet weather contributes to accidents

Lake Havasu City Police Department reported two weather-related vehicle collisions on wet roadways in Lake Havasu City as of Monday afternoon. Mohave County Sheriff’s Office reported no accidents in the Havasu area as a result of the weather.

Lake Havasu City Police Department responded to a two-vehicle, non-injury collision at 11:50 a.m. in the 2200 block of North McCulloch Boulevard.

“The vehicle couldn’t stop quickly because of (wet) road conditions,” said Senior Officer Joe Murdock, of the Lake Havasu City Police Department.

Melissa D. Lyon-Dudley, 52, of Lake Havasu City, was traveling eastbound in her white 2001 Toyota Corolla on North McCulloch Boulevard when she attempted to stop in order to avoid hitting Lawrence Mathias, 68, of Havasu, who was also traveling eastbound in his 1999 White Jeep. Mathias was slowing down to make a right turn when Lyon-Dudley reportedly hit him from behind, Murdock said.

Lyon-Dudley and passenger Jerry D. Coombs, 76, of Havasu, as well as Mathias were all unharmed in the incident. Lyon-Dudley also had a large dog riding in her vehicle that was uninjured.

Lyon-Dudley was cited for failure to control speed in order to avoid an accident, police said.

Lake Havasu City Fire Department responded with Truck No. 1 to the collision. The police department responded with two patrol units and a sergeant.

At 3:18 p.m., Havasu police responded to a second two-vehicle, non-injury collision in the 90 block of South Acoma Boulevard after Skyler Jumper, 24, of Havasu, lost control of his white 1997 Mercury and struck a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, police said.

“(Jumper) started to lose control of the car due to the wet pavement. He went into a spin and struck another vehicle,” said Sgt. Wilson.

Jumper was traveling northbound on Acoma Boulevard when he lost control of his vehicle and struck Yolanda Rizo, 25, traveling southbound on Acoma in her black 2003 Kia, Wilson said.

Jumper was cited for failure to control speed to avoid an accident, the sergeant said.

“One thing to always keep in mind is the first rain we’ve had in a long time brings up the oils and other chemicals that have been deposited on the roadway. That, compounded with water can make it extra slick,” said Sgt. Joe Harrold, the department’s spokesman.

Allowing more time to get from place to place and allowing extra braking distance when roadways are wet will help decrease chances of a vehicle collision, Harrold said.

Visibility is a little less, so Harrold advises drivers to use headlights even during the day as well as make sure windshield wipers are in good working condition.

Mohave County Sheriff’s Department reported no weather-related accidents in the Havasu area occurred Monday.

MCSO spokeswoman Trish Carter said the Kingman area was experiencing snowfall in the Hualapai Mountains, but the agency had yet to receive information about road closures in that area.

Much of the more than 2 feet of snow forecast is expected to fall Monday evening into Tuesday morning, leaving already slick and icy roads more treacherous. A rare blizzard warning for the mountains of northern Arizona is in effect through noon Tuesday.

Blizzard conditions are typical, but the strong winds, loads of snow and extreme low visibility generally don’t combine for the three hours needed to warrant such a warning.

“That’s usually where we fall short,” said meteorologist David Blanchard with the weather service in Flagstaff. “This one will hit the duration.”

Southwest winds of 30 mph with gusts of up to 50 mph created blowing and drifting snow conditions, making it difficult for snow plow crews and residents to keep roads, driveways and sidewalks clear. Munds Park had at least 12 inches of snow Monday night, while Flagstaff had between 12 and 18 inches.

Drivers were being advised to stay home Monday if possible and avoid travel later in the day.

“When the sun goes down, people need to go home,” said Arizona Department of Transportation spokesman Rod Wigman.

The storm was blamed for dozens of accidents and road closures in the Flagstaff area, including a small stretch of Interstate 17 near a scenic overlook where a UPS truck lost its trailer and slammed into a barrier wall.

Flagstaff Deputy City Manager Jim Wine said the snowfall is pretty routine for Flagstaff, which is nearly 7,000 feet in elevation. But the wind is a concern because it could cause power outages and whiteout driving conditions, he said. City and county officials released nonessential employees early.

“We don’t want to encourage people to come out when it’s dangerous to go to a recreation facility or library,” he said.

The Flagstaff school district canceled classes Tuesday and allowed parents to pick up their children early on Monday. Northern Arizona University released students and staff early Monday in the midst of final exams.

Wigman said about two dozen snow plows began work at 6 a.m. in the Flagstaff area and would stay on the roads through Monday night. The department vowed to keep northern Arizona roads plowed and safe despite a $100 million budget deficit.

The local ski resort wasn’t quite ready to hang the start of its season on the storm. The wind and lack of moisture in the snow likely will keep a snow base from forming, said Dave Smith, marketing manager at the privately owned Arizona Snowbowl north of Flagstaff. The Snowbowl opened last year about a week before Christmas with a 30-inch snow base.

“We can’t count the flakes until they’re on the ground,” Smith said.

Residents bundled up Monday to shovel snow from their driveways and sidewalks. But with snow falling at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour, it was difficult to keep them clear. Many people spent the weekend preparing for the storm by stocking up on snow shovels, ice melt and ice scrapers, and hanging holiday lights and other decorations.

One local hardware store ran out of snow shovels Sunday after customers snatched up 400 the day before.