Drive carefully on icy roads

By Calvin Hall

The Gresham Outlook, Dec 29, 2009, Updated Dec 29, 2009

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The Oregon State Police is reminding drivers to slow down and be attentive when traveling on icy roads, following an accident in the Columbia River Gorge when a motorist collided with a patrol car and injured a state police trooper.

Trooper Mark Jubitz was responding to a crash on eastbound Interstate 84 near the Hood River city center exit at 8:55 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, according to state police Sgt. Pat Shortt. Jubitz was slowing down so that he could pull onto the freeway shoulder to assist at the scene when a Honda Pilot sport utility vehicle, driven by David Nieto, 33, of The Dalles, crashed into the back of his patrol car. The road was extremely icy at the time, following a series of snow showers in the area.

Nieto was accompanied by four children: 8-year-old twins, a 3-year-old and a 12-year-old. None of them were hurt. Nieto was cited for careless driving. Jubitz was treated for minor injuries at Hood River Providence Hospital and released.

Shortt said the hazards of traveling on icy or snowy roads are magnified when drivers are traveling too fast or being inattentive.

“If the pavement looks wet, and it is cold outside there is a good chance that the roadway surface may be icy,” Shortt said.

In addition, Oregonians are reminded that the “Move Over” law is changing Jan. 1 to include roadside assistance vehicles and tow vehicles to the list of vehicles that drivers need to move over for when their warning lights are flashing.

The amended law also requires drivers to slow down at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit if they are unable to move over to another lane, such as on a two-lane road.