SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - The first winter storm of the season caused a lot of headaches for drivers trying to make their way around Sheboygan County, dealing with their first real taste of snowy and icy road condition.
As a result, law enforcement agencies throughout the area were busy starting in the early afternoon Monday dealing with calls of vehicles having problems with the conditions.
“From 12 o’clock noon on Monday, December 28, 2015, the Sheboygan Police Department responded to 16 automobile crashes and 17 reports of automobiles stranded due to snow or ice," said Sergeant Joel Kuszynski. That number was as of 4 a.m. Tuesday, and additional calls have come in since.
For the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department, Lieutenant Jason Liermann said it was just as bad. “The first incident started at 2:29 p.m. yesterday (Monday). We’re stilling at about 44 right now. (that was of 4 a.m. Tuesday - more calls have come in since) We had 36 vehicles in the ditch, four property damage accidents, two injury accidents, two vehicles that were abandoned and stuck in the road, no one was around, and I should say seven other assist calls where vehicles were stuck on the roadways, so we’re actually at 51 total calls due to the snow storm.”
Liermann says he is not surprised with the number of calls received. “This is typical of what we see, especially during like the first snowstorm of the year, with the vehicles getting stuck and the snow removal crews and the highway departments not able to keep up with the amount of snow that we get.”
Kuszynski adds the best advice for people to follow is not to go out in this weather. “The Sheboygan Police Department urges citizens to stay off the roads if the weather conditions are poor. Driving during these weather conditions can be dangerous and can lead to costly toll bills.”