BONNERS FERRY — The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office has been kept busy responding to slide-offs and crashes as winter weather made its appearance in the county. Since Dec. 1, there have been four crashes reported by the BCSO. 

In 2023, there were an estimated 101,390 police-reported crashes nationwide that occurred during snow or sleet, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 21% of all weather-related crashes happen in snow or sleet conditions. 

Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley said several areas of the county pose the biggest problems. 

“With Peterson Hill and North Hill, especially in a snowstorm, it’s very typical to get spinouts on semis,” Stolley said. “In the middle of a snowstorm, ITD can only do what they can do.” 

Stolley said speed is the most common reason behind crashes during the winter. 

“Speed is probably the factor in most accidents. Especially with winter driving, they’re driving too fast for conditions,” he said. “It’s a completely different animal dealing with snow on the road and ice.” 

Multiple incidents at once, he said, can stretch resources thin. 

“It depends on what time of day it is and what resources we have available,” Stolley said. “With a small department, we’re limited on deputies on duty. Sometimes, like the other day, there are multiple blocking accidents or spinouts, and we just have to start at the top and work our way through which ones need our resources the most.”

Stolley said secondary crashes are a major concern. 

“A lot of times we’re worried about secondary crashes — people driving too fast, getting into a spinout or stuck in a corner or a blind spot and then cars come from behind and hit them,” he said. 

He added that early-season snow can be deceptive. 

“The light, powdery and slippery snow is sometimes a little deceiving and you think you can drive faster than you can,” he said. “But almost always, it’s too fast for conditions.” 

Stolley said preparing vehicles for winter is critical. 

“It’s important to make sure your vehicle is prepared with water, blankets, flares if necessary,” he said. “Just kind of have that winter survival mindset.” 

“If you’re somewhere in a rural area and you end up in the ditch or get stuck, stay with your vehicle if possible,” Stolley added. “We’ve had people try to walk out and freeze to death because they couldn’t make it back.”