KINGVALE, Calif. — The first significant snow of the season arrived in the Sierra Wednesday afternoon, prompting chain controls.
While the storm was much smaller than what the region has experienced in the past years, it left its mark as it caught drivers off guard.
“Definitely caught me off guard. I was not expecting it,” said truck driver Jermaine Brown.
CHP Truckee reported multiple spinouts and traffic collisions on I-80 as the major freeway was hit with snowfall.
The return of the wintery conditions forced chain control for the first time this season. It caught many drivers, like Brown, off guard and chainless.
“I just went not even 15 miles,” said Brown, while mentioning how long the chain control perimeter was. “I spent $500 to do this setup, so I was not prepared for this. I usually do not come in this area.”
David Parker drives through the Sierra every two weeks and believes chain controls were not needed if drivers took a deep breath.
“If you just slow down, take turns, give each other room, there would not be any problems,” said Parker, who also drives a truck.
As the snow season is here, Parker buckled in for the next rounds of chain controls.
“You see a lot of accidents on the road. It is just inexperience,” said Parker. “Speed and inattention, that is the only two causes of any accident.”
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