Friday, February 4th, 2022
Snow, Ice Pound Area
Counties under a Level 3 snow emergency
By Daily Standard Staff
Submitted Photo
This semitrailer carrying eggs overturned on Philothea Road south of State Route 118 shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday. The driver reportedly complained of leg pain, but refused treatment at the scene, according to a Mercer County Sheriff's deputy.
By LESLIE GARTRELL and SANDY ROSE SCHWIETERMAN
newsroom@dailystandard.com
State and local officials said it was impossible for road crews to keep up with the constant snow and wind during Thursday's winter storm.
They also urged citizens to stay home again today if at all possible to give road crews room to work and to avoid treacherous road conditions. All Auglaize County government buildings including jobs and family services are closed today, according to county EMA director Troy Anderson.
However, despite up to 12 inches of snow accumulation in some areas since Wednesday, law enforcement officials as of Thursday night reported few traffic accidents and two with unspecified injuries.
Mercer and Auglaize counties were both on a Level 3 snow emergency Thursday night as winds caused drifting snow and deteriorating road conditions. All government offices in Mercer County will be closed if the county stays under a Level 3 snow emergency.
The snow emergencies were set to expire in Mercer County at 7 a.m. and in Auglaize County 8 a.m. today, county officials said. Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey and Auglaize County Sheriff Michael Vorhees said they would re-evaluate road conditions early today to determine the advisory level.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Paden Koontz blows snow at a Celina residence on Shimp Drive Thursday afternoon.
Vorhees believes the relatively low number of traffic accidents was the result of people staying off the roadways.
"I don't usually like all the hype about approaching storms," Vorhees said. "But that gave people ample warning and so they were able to prepare beforehand, getting their groceries and supplies early, allowing them to stay home."
Vorhees said the early closure of businesses and schools was another reason for fewer vehicles being out.
"When Crown (Equipment) closes that really reduces traffic," he said. Other large employers, like Cooper Farms, were closed as well.
That is not to say all drivers escaped without mishap.
A total of 9 slideoffs were reported in Mercer County between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 7 p.m. Thursday night.
Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Doug Timmerman reported two semitrailer crashes early Thursday.
The first was reported at 10:19 a.m. on Philothea Road south of State Route 118, when a 2020 Volvo semitrailer driven by Akashdeep Singh of Fresno, California, slid off the roadway after leaving the Cooper Farms facility. The truck reportedly ended up on its side in the ditch.
The trailer was filled with eggs and needed to be unloaded before the truck and trailer could be set on their wheels. The driver was not cited, although he was found at fault, Timmerman said.
Singh complained of leg pain but reportedly refused transport to the hospital, Timmerman said. No other vehicles reportedly were involved in the accident. Timmerman reported that the driver was dressed in shorts and a t-shirt.
The driver in the second accident narrowly avoided injury. Timmerman reported that at 12:34 p.m., a 2017 Kenworth semitrailer, operated by Reuben Rosario of Hains City, Florida, began sliding on U.S. 33 before skidding across the Erastus Durbin Road intersection. The semitrailer slid into a ditch and struck a pole, which then went through the semi's windshield, Timmerman said.
The driver reportedly was unhurt, and the semitrailer was damaged and had to be towed from the scene. No other vehicles were involved and the driver was not cited, according to Timmerman.
A third crash with injuries was reported in Mercer County but no further details were available by press time.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Bryan Hemmelgarn shovels the driveway in front of his house on Meadowview Drive in Celina Thursday afternoon.
In Auglaize County, Vorhees said deputies reported similar incidents, with some slideoffs but few serious accidents. He said the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol handled an injury accident on State Route 25A near the Wintzer rendering plant. Also, a semitrailer was reported to have slid off State Route 119 outside Minster.
As the storm's snow and wind intensified during the day Thursday, the Mercer County Sheriff's Office issued a Level 3 snow emergency from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. today. A Level 3 means roads were closed to all non-emergency travel because of extremely hazardous conditions. Drivers on the road during a Level 3 snow emergency for non-emergency reasons were subject to arrest.
The Auglaize County's Sheriff's Office also issued a Level 3 snow emergency from 7 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. today.
Road conditions are expected to improve over the next few days, with the snow ending early Saturday morning, according to the Wilmington office of the National Weather Service.
Brad Laffin, operations manager at the Mercer County Engineer's office, said efforts made by the county's 13 drivers to clear roads throughout the day Thursday were largely unsuccessful.
"Virtually no roads are clear," he said around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Crews had to park their trucks at 7 p.m. because they were maxing out on hours and needed rest, Laffin said. He said three back-up trucks would be on duty from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. working on designated, primary roadways and assisting emergency vehicles. The full crew would be back on duty at 4:30 a.m. today, he said.
Auglaize County Engineer Andrew Baumer painted a similar picture of Auglaize County.
"The roads were honestly better at 6 a.m. than 6 p.m.," he said around 7:30 p.m Thursday. "The trucks were out all day and you can't tell we did anything. The wind is relentless."
Baumer and Laffin said drifting was a huge issue for crews. Both also said crews would clear a road only for it to return to the same condition as when it was first cleared, if not worse.
The wind and snow drifts erased any progress crews made throughout the day, Laffin said.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard
Celina workers clear snow on the steps of Mercer County Courthouse.
Baumer said all of the county's 15 drivers and three back-up drivers were in service on Thursday. Drivers started plowing at 4 a.m. and stopped at 6 p.m. because they needed to rest, Baumer said. The full crew will be back in service at 4 a.m. today, he said.
Because crews had to stop plowing Thursday evening, Baumer said all Auglaize County roads likely would be impassable until today after crews could get out.
Tiffany Oliphant, public information officer for ODOT District 7, said crews were unable to pre-treat roadways due to rain directly before the snow. Crews also couldn't treat roads during the storm due to the persistent wind and snow.
"It's been a tough day for road crews," she said Thursday night.
Oliphant said ODOT workers were plowing in 12-hours shifts, with a new crew working from midnight-noon today. She said 12 ODOT crews worked in Mercer County, covering 416 lane miles. A lane mile is calculated by multiplying the number of lanes by the highway length, according to ODOT. Oliphant said 16 ODOT crews worked in Auglaize County, covering 464 lane miles.
Mercer County Emergency Management Association Director Mike Robbins said he was aware of several slideoffs and accidents throughout the day Thursday.
Troy Anderson, Auglaize County Emergency Management Association director, said winds could be 20-30 mph Thursday night and into this morning.
Anderson said residents should stay home if they can, but if travel is absolutely necessary they should make sure their phone is charged, they have extra clothes and take other safety precautions when driving.
Oliphant also urged citizens to stay home and off the roads for the sake of workers on the road. She said there were multiple reports of slideoffs and crashes throughout the Miami Valley, many of which could have been avoided.
"If you can stay home, do so," she said. "It's dangerous out there."
