Wrecks follow snowfall and ice

Published 9:00 pm Friday, December 26, 2003

Snow that gave some elevated parts of Snohomish County a white Christmas night had turned to ice Friday morning and resulted in numerous accidents, authorities said.

The snow began to fall in the afternoon Christmas Day, ranging from about a half-inch in Lake Stevens, Snohomish and Mukilteo to 1 1/2inches in Monroe and about 4 inches or more in the Cascade foothills.

Snow could be seen on some vehicles around towns at lower elevations. And some snow was still on the ground Friday, but in some places it turned to ice that caught motorists by surprise.

Multiple accidents shut down Highway 525 for a period of time at about 6 a.m., but there were no serious injuries, according to the State Patrol.

In Lynnwood, a pickup slid off the road and struck a power pole, shearing off the pole and leaving an live power line on the ground, Lynnwood Fire Lt. Gregg Sieloff said. The woman driving the pickup fled the scene, but later was contacted by police.

More snow could be on the way in the near future.

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for this afternoon and evening in the Cascades and the Olympic mountains — with a possible snowfall of 1 to 2 feet across the mountains and in the passes, KIRO-TV reported.

The snow level was expected to drop to lower than 1,000 feet, with possible snow showers Friday night and today.