Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Greg Mellis A plow clears snow on Eberlein Park Drive in Shawano on Wednesday as March began with snow and high winds creating hazardous driving conditions throughout Northeastern Wisconsin. Blowing and drifting snow continued throughout the day, forcing several schools and businesses to close early.
Leader Photo by Greg Mellis Geese looking for corn pick through the snow-covered field near Wildwood Road on Wednesday.
Motorists seemed a little less prepared than usual for the double dose of rain and snow that moved through the area Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
Shawano County Sheriff’s Capt. Tom Tuma said shifting road conditions were a contributing factor.
“Road conditions changed drastically and quickly,” he said, with rain turning to snow overnight and hiding patches of glare ice.
High winds blowing drifting snow out of open fields and onto the roadways made travel even more treacherous, he added.
“Town roads are probably in the worst condition,” he said Wednesday afternoon.
The sheriff’s department reported 37 accidents between midnight and 2 p.m. A county dispatcher said at 6 p.m. the roads had improved since then, and there were no further accidents reported.
Two accidents hampered travel and caused detours early Wednesday.
A van rolled over outside of Shawano on state Highway 29 near County Road T just after 6 a.m. The driver was a 35-year-old Sheboygan man.
Tuma said the Jaws of Life were used to extricate him from the vehicle, but no further information was available.
The crash closed eastbound lanes for about two hours.
Then, just after 10 a.m., a semi driven by a 25-year-old man from Georgia jackknifed on U.S. Highway 45 near Lone Maple Road in Tigerton, closing lanes in both directions until about noon.
No injuries were reported.
The weather also forced early closings of schools throughout the area and cancelled numerous other events, including some Ash Wednesday services.