Icy roads blamed for wrecks all around Sisters

Icy roads contributed to this accident. photo by Jim Mitchell

It wasn't as bad in Sisters as it was in Portland, but icy road conditions last weekend did contribute to several wrecks.

A three-car pileup clogged Highway 20 outside Three Wind Shopping Center on Saturday when vehicles slid into each other on the slick roadway.

According to authorities, a westbound Jeep lost control on the slick pavement and slid into an eastbound passenger car. An SUV following the passenger car eastbound was unable to stop and also hit the passenger car.

One occupant of the passenger car was extricated from the wreck and transported to St. Charles Medical Center by ambulance.

Black Butte Ranch Police responded to a non-injury crash in the area of mile post 89.5 near Suttle Lake.

According to police, the driver stated he had just turned off his four-wheel-drive mechanism and when he did the vehicle began to slide and he lost control.

The vehicle left the roadway and struck two trees on the westbound portion of the road.

Driving in freezing rain conditions requires extreme caution. Authorities agree it's best not to drive at all.

If you must be on the roads in freezing rain and icy conditions, the Automobile Association of America offers a few basic tips:

Start and stop slowly and smoothly. Increase following distance to eight to 10 seconds. Anticipate turns and curves, slow down in advance, make smooth, precise steering wheel movements.

If skidding, don't panic.

A skid occurs when the brakes are applied hard enough to lock the wheels or if over-acceleration causes the wheels to spin. There are three categories of skids: Rear-wheel, front-wheel and four-wheel.

There are several common actions to take in each to regain control of the vehicle. Take your foot off the brake, ease off the accelerator, and de-clutch (manual transmission) or shift to neutral (automatic transmission).

Steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Wait for the wheels to grip the road again.

When traction is regained, steer in the desired direction. Release the clutch or shift to "drive" and accelerate gently to a safe speed.

When braking on ice or snow, it's important to know whether the vehicle is equipped with antilock brakes. If it does not have antilock brakes, apply firm, steady pressure. If the wheels lock, release the brake pressure then immediately reapply it with slightly less pressure.

If the vehicle is equipped with an antilock brake system (ABS), do NOT pump the pedal or release the brake pressure. A sensor will detect when the wheels lock and brake pressure automatically will be relieved just enough to allow the wheels to turn again.

Pumping the pedal actually works against the ABS system, feeding it false information.

If you skid off the road and are unable to resume traveling, be sure to take appropriate safety precautions.

Alert other motorists by turning on the vehicle's lights and emergency flashers and placing flares or warning triangles well behind the vehicle; make sure you and your passengers are a safe distance from traffic; and remain with the vehicle.