Icy Roads Prove Deadly

February 11, 2002
 
By Stan Orchard

WESTERN WASHINGTON - As if just being Monday wasn't bad enough, Mother Nature made the first day of the work week even tougher than normal.

Black ice on many roadways around The Sound caused dozens of accidents Monday morning. The State Patrol reports 86 weather-related accidents in Pierce and Thurston Counties alone.

The worst of the many accidents was in the city of Snohomish about 6:30 a.m. in the 4800 block of Bickford Avenue. A 41-year-old Everett woman was driving southbound on Bickford when she slid off the roadway and hit a tree.

Also in Snohomish County, a multi-car pileup blocked the northbound lanes of I-5 near Marysville.

Officer Loses Leg In Ice-Related Crash

Another accident in Thurston County near Olympia sent a Tacoma police officer to the hospital.

The officer, 38-year-old Tim Griffith, had stopped on his way to work to assist at the scene of an accident on northbound I-5. Another car struck his from behind, forcing it into his leg.

Doctors had to amputate his left leg.

Griffith is out of surgery but remains in serious condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He's expected to remain in the hospital for two more weeks.

He is a 12-year member of the force who worked as a patrol officer.

Tacoma police spokesman Jim Mattheis says the left leg was amputated below the knee.

The KOMO WeatherCenter says to expect more of the icy weather for the next couple of days.