At least 21 snow-related accidents reported

Julie Sickel

The tally of car accidents as a result of Monday evening’s rapid snowfall reached into the double digits, leaving many Kent State students and residents with future vehicle repairs.

“We had some pretty heavy snowfall for a period of about an hour and a half, and it was just more than the trucks could keep up with,” said dispatcher Paul Rothenbacher of Kent State Police. “It fell at about two inches per hour, and that’s when most of the accidents occurred — in that time span.”

Three minor accidents occurred in the Leebrick, Loop and Horning Road areas of campus, while the total of city accidents reached 21 by 9 p.m., Rothenbacher said.

Dispatcher Rosemarie Mosher of the Kent Police said no serious injuries were reported with the accidents.

A vehicle slid into a PARTA bus on Main Street Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported.

One fender-bender involving three vehicles slowed already snow-weary drivers traveling westbound on state Route 59 at approximately 3:45 p.m.

Megan Dunn, junior fashion merchandising major, was stopped at the Luther Avenue light when Ashley Satterwhite’s silver Mazda CX-7 rear-ended her gray Chevy Impala.

Moments later, the driver’s side corner of Lisa Straw’s silver Oldsmobile Delta struck Satterwhite’s Mazda.

“The front car was stopped and the (Mazda) hit her first,” Straw said. “I tried to stop, but I obviously couldn’t in time.”

Straw’s daughter waited patiently in the damaged vehicle while the three women exchanged information and explained the incident to a Kent Police officer.

All three vehicles sustained cosmetic damage but were capable of driving post-accident.

Contact Julie Sickel at [email protected].