Surprise snowstorm hits area
Icy road conditions caused by a "sneak attack" snowstorm Thursday caused two accidents in the Florence area, including a trucktrain accident and another that left the city without heat for several hours.
A KW semi tractor-trailer driven by Raleigh Eugene Dickey, 66, Derby, was traveling northbound on U.S. 77 and met an oncoming southbound vehicle which was sliding on the icy roadway.
Dickey slowed to avoid striking the other vehicle, slid and went into the east ditch and overturned coming to rest on a gas line owned by Atmos Energy, Herington. The driver was injured, but refused medical treatment from Florence Ambulance, according to a report by Marion County Undersheriff Randy Brazil. The accident occurred at 3:13 p.m.
"At the time of the accident, weather conditions were very poor," Brazil said. "The car was sliding sideways. The semi driver slowed to avoid the white passenger car and ended up sliding off the road.
Just a couple minutes later at 3:15 p.m., a Florence man escaped injury following a collision with a train. Orvill Vannocker, Florence, was driving a vehicle on Wagon Wheel south of U.S. 50 when he approached a railroad track. Seeing the train, he applied the brakes, but was unable to stop due to icy road conditions, and the vehicle slid into the path of a Burlington Northern-Santa Fe locomotive, Becker said.
The front and left side of the truck was damaged.
One-inch of snow was reported at Marion Reservoir. Florence reported four-inches, Peabody had three-inches.
