Snow Causes Morning Havok in Torrington.

1/10/2015


At around 6:30 AM I headed out for what would be another usual winter mess. Typically when we are experiencing snowfall during the day, I will go out and assist motorists and local emergency services because usually there is thin coverage. There was about 3/4" of snow at 7:00 am yesterday and although the highway was fine, several roads in Torrington proved to be a literal uphill struggle.


 I started my "patrol" off of Exit 44 and headed towards Walmart on East Main street. In the area of Fern Drive, there was a Jeep that was disabled in the middle of the road, blocking the uphill traffic. This caused many drivers to brake which ended up starting a chain reaction of vehicles that did not have enough momentum or traction to get up the hill. Fortunately, a good Samaritan with a big truck had tow chains and offered to tow the Jeep to a nearby gas station. Once the road was clear, I spoke with an State Police officer and let him know that I would be out "lending a hand" to which he thankfully replied, saying that what was happening on this hill was happening all over Northwestern Connecticut.


I was able to continue my route and then went up Dibble Street to Kennedy Drive. It was at this point that I spent a good hour directing traffic and assisting stuck vehicles. The main problem was the traffic light at the Exit 45 N off ramp. Vehicles who were going uphill from Winsted Rd would have to stop and this created a dangerous situation of cars that either could not get going again or that had a very difficult time going up  the hill. Many of the vehicles that were stuck were smaller front wheel drive vehicles. I spoke to a woman who was driving one of those high MPG boogers (2 door hatchback). We laughed about the trade off of a car that was great on gas but horrible in the snow. We waited for traffic to clear and I instructed her on how to get back on the road. I told her to just keep her speed steady and wiggle up the road. It took her a little while but sure enough she was able to get on her way.


About 20 minutes after assisting several other motorists, I called 911 and asked the LCD dispatcher to send a police officer and a plow truck. Conditions were worsening and as it got closer to 8:30 AM, there were more and more vehicles on the road. One vehicle slid over into the opposite lane and was blocking oncoming traffic and several vehicles were un able to go anywhere. The dispatcher told me that the DOT was en route and that an officer would be there shortly. A Torrington Police officer arrived about 8 minutes later and he reset the traffic light so that it was flashing amber for Kennedy Drive and red for the Exit 45 off ramp. Shortly later a plow truck came by and threw down some sand. This proved to be a much needed remedy.


You are probably wondering why I do any of this. Why would I take time out of my day to help other people? The simple answer is that I feel it is my duty as a Prepper and a Sheep Dog. Sometimes the Fire Departments are overwhelmed with calls and they should not have to deal with people who are just stuck in snow. They are better trained and equipped for motor vehicle accidents, fires and incidents involving injuries. It is a waste of their resources and tax dollars to do something that any normal citizen can do and for every citizen that has lost their sense of community, there are at least a dozen citizens who feel helpless. I am unable to be a fire fighter due to a physical injury but that doesn't stop me and wont stop me from helping out when disasters happen or when winter weather causes rush hour mayhem. I also have found that operating as a private citizen gives me some wiggle room because I am not subject to certain protocols or rules. It is kind of like how the US Government has been using private contractors instead of soldiers. Private "armies" can operate outside the bounds of the rules of engagement or whatever. I know my limits and I know what I am doing. I have training, knowledge and the tools to operate in a capacity that is beneficial to my community.

Amazing Rescue of Trapped Motorist in River by Local Emergency Crews.

January 07, 2015
Firefighters, Police and Medical personnel had to take swift action to extricate an unconscious motorist who was trapped in a vehicle that went off the road and into the Farmington River. It hadn't even been snowing an hour when the tone went out at aproximately 1:30 PM.  Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services volunteers from Riverton, Pleasant Valley, Winsted, Colebrook and New Hartford responded to the scene at 448 West River Road in Barkhamsted.

 At the scene, a silver 4 door sedan was off the road and into the river. The vehicle sustained heavy damage. Temperatures were in the low teens and it was snowing steadily..Frigid water temperatures forced responders to work quickly as hypothermia will set in extremely fast in weather conditions like those today and put the patient and emergency responders in even more danger.



 Lifestar was requested and was going to land at the Fairgrounds but shortly after Lifestar was requested to the scene, they had to cancel due to unsafe flying conditions. Department of Transportation plows were used to sand and clear an area for the helicopter to land minutes before the cancellation

West River Road was blocked by emergency vehicles but no traffic congestion was caused. Drivers were detoured to East River Road or back to old route 8 and to Route 44. Several other area fire departments were on standby. Canton  FD was called to stand by in New Hartford. For the most part, road conditions seemed to be safe and there was less than 1/2 an inch of snow on the ground at the time of the dispatch. At this time it is not know what caused the vehicle to end up in the river. Patient condition and information is not known.

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