More than a dozen drivers were involved in an accident Wednesday night on a snowy mountain road as a cold storm was heading towards southern california.
The crash happened on Route 189 in the San Bernardino County mountain community of Crestline around 9:30 a.m. The road was closed for several hours as vehicles approached the scene.
No serious injuries were reported.
On Highway 10 in Yucaipa, up to 20 drivers were involved in a pileup. Eight people were hospitalized after the reported accident, around 10 p.m., near Live Oak Canyon.
Details on their conditions were not immediately available.
The crashes happened at the start of a powerful winter storm that is expected to unleash feet of snow over the weekend. The bulk of the storm will hit Southern California Friday through Saturday with snow, rain and high winds.
The accident happened due to rain and frost on the road.
A blizzard warning comes into effect Friday for mountains in Los Angeles and Ventura counties and continues through Saturday. The National Weather Service said travel conditions will be dire in the mountains of southern California.
“Make sure you have chains and everything, just in case,” said Victorville resident Jesús Rodríguez. “You have to be prepared with blankets, flashlights, you never know.”
Snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches are possible by Saturday evening at elevations as low as 2,000 feet. Drivers should expect heavy snowfall on most passes.
Rain and snow will intensify Thursday evening through early Saturday morning. Some areas will see precipitation rates of half an inch to 1 inch per hour.
TIPS FOR DRIVERS
The Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) offers the following tips for driving in rainy or snowy conditions.
- Make sure your headlights are on. Keeping your headlights on every time you drive will increase your visibility in all conditions.
- Slow down and leave plenty of room to stop, making sure to leave at least three times more space than usual between you and the vehicle in front of you.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding.
- Do not use vehicle cruise control (cruise control) on wet, snowy or icy roads.
- Be aware of possibly icy roads, especially with bridges and overpasses, which freeze before the roads.
- Be careful on low traffic roads, which may not be cleared as often as other roads.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station NBCLA. Click here to read this story in English.