Slick streets keep drivers, police busy in Monday storm

Many local drivers leaving work early to avoid the worst of Monday’s storm found they were already too late.

Around lunchtime, the snow intensified and made roads and streets especially slick. Hills, always slippery in snow and ice, were especially troublesome in Colorado Springs.

Nadine Doughty was unable to drive over the 8th Street hill despite having a Jeep Cherokee. She parked on the shoulder and waited for help.

“My son was coming to get me, but he can’t even get out of the driveway,” Doughty said. “I would have stayed home today, but I had a work emergency. I guess I can call roadside assistance.”

Doughty later tried to back down the street for a short distance and drive away on her own but became stuck again.

Smaller hills also were a problem for drivers, especially hills just south of downtown on Tejon Street and Nevada Avenue. Several vehicles spun their wheels and were unable to get over the hills.

Police briefly closed parts of those streets to detour traffic around.

“When one person gets stuck, everyone gets stuck,” said Officer Gary Darress of the Colorado Springs Police Department. “It’s better to just close the streets before there’s an accident.”

Some people volunteered to help push vehicles over the hills.

“I’ve lived here eight years, and this is the worst I’ve seen since I left Chicago,” said Becky Snelson. “I didn’t have any trouble getting around, though.”

James McMearn said he was thankful to make it through the traffic congestion on the hills.

“I’m headed home to make chili and watch movies,” he said.

A supervisor with the city’s Streets Division said a layer of ice under the snow contributed to the slick conditions and asked drivers to ease off their brakes to avoid skidding.