Full Text:

First Big Snow Snarls Local Roads

(with cut)

The first major snowstorm of the season swept through Newtown Wednesday night

during the evening commute, leaving long lines of motorists waiting at the

base of slippery hills and providing a long night of opportunity for tow-truck

operators and snow plow jobbers.

Newtown police reported numerous accidents and motor vehicle incidents on

Wednesday from about 4 pm to midnight, when the town was blanketed with heavy,

wet snow that turned into ice after vehicles drove over it and compressed it.

Police said there were at least 11 accidents, one of which involved injuries.

The numerous accident reports by the patrol officers had not been filled out

in time for publication in The Bee Thursday morning.

Also, many vehicles became stuck due to the treacherous condition of the local

roads.

There was a major tie-up on Church Hill Road near Wendover Road when a

tractor-trailer truck jackknifed blocking traffic in both directions. Clearing

the road took about two and a half hours. Also, motorists on Route 25 and 34

were brought to a standstill on hills by the slick road conditions.

On Thursday morning, the opening of Newtown's schools was delayed for two

hours.

On the positive side, the sticky, wet snow clung to everything in sight,

creating a spectacular winter wonderland, bringing photographers out to mingle

with the shovelers.