McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

January 27, 2009

Sheriff busy as county roads remain slick and hazardous

By James Beaty

Slick roads made for hazardous driving conditions in Pittsburg County as a winter storm moved through the area.

“Things aren’t going so good this morning,” said Pittsburg County Sheriff Joel Kerns.

Particular trouble spots were reported west and north of McAlester, where numerous accidents have occurred. So far, there had been no fatalities, Kerns said.

Four vehicles slid off the highway and a pickup overturned on U.S. Highway 270 west of McAlester, the sheriff said.

One particular trouble spot is in the area where Haywood Road connects with the highway near Arpelar.

“Our cars would pull over to the shoulder and they would slide,” Kerns said.

Numerous accidents occurred on U.S. Highway 69 north from Hereford Lane to Crowder, the sheriff said. From 7:30 p.m. on Monday to 6:30 this morning, there were continual accidents, according to the sheriff.

A lot of problems occurred in the Coal Creek Road and Rock Creek Road areas, the sheriff said.

Especially troublesome were the bridges and the approaches to the bridges over Lake Eufaula, the sheriff said.

As a driver approaches Coal Creek bridge, “There’s a stretch where the highway is upraised where the wind can hit it on both sides,” Kerns said. “I guess you’d call it a crosswind.”

Like other emergency personnel in the area, Kerns planned to keep a close watch on the weather this afternoon and overnight.

“It’s bad,” Kerns said of the driving conditions near daybreak this morning.

“We’re working with emergency management and PSO,” Kerns said.

“I hope it doesn’t get any worse.”

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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