Yesterday's surprise snowstorm not only inconvenienced students trudging to class, it also caused a higher-than-average number of vehicle accidents in the Charlottesville area.
"There were lots and lots of accidents," said Rebecca White, director of University Parking and Transportation.
In two unrelated mishaps, a University Transit Service bus slid off the road and a car slid into the back of a management vehicle, White said. There were no injuries and no serious damage in either case.
A Charlottesville City fire truck also slid off the side of the Route 29 off-ramp to Fontaine Avenue, said Dennis Hahn, assistant chief of the Charlottesville Fire Department. There were no injuries.
The truck "was on the way to a vehicle fire," Hahn said. "There were chains on the truck and it was only going five mph, so speed was not a factor."
Hahn said two other engines were sent to the scene of the fire.
Snow began to fall in the Charlottesville area around 9 a.m., causing difficulties for students and faculty trying to get to class.
"One of my professors canceled class because he couldn't drive in" the snow, third-year College student Gail Graham said. The professor notified his students by e-mail.
"If I remember correctly, it was about five years ago" that the University last shut down completely due to snow, English Prof. Peter Baker said.
The University has been closed only once in the last decade.
Many students could not get to central Grounds yesterday because the buses were not running, Baker said. Baker had to cancel his literary analysis class because he "didn't have quorum."
But the buses never stopped running, White said. "We have to alter our routes" according to the weather conditions, but "only when it's completely impassable would we stop altogether," she said.
White said signs are placed at suspended bus stops when drivers start detouring due to inclement weather. When snowfalls stopped mid-evening, between three and six inches had accumulated.
University Police Capt. Mark Coleman offered advice to avoid accidents. "When roads are bad like this, cars should have snow tires or chains, and drivers should go slowly and watch out for other people."
He also said, if possible, people should not go out at all.
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