By TIM PRESTON - The Independent
ASHLAND — A powdery, dry snow blanketed the Ashland area in varying depths overnight Friday, leaving secondary roads somewhat slippery as parking lots and primary routes were cleared within a few hours of sunrise.
Slippery conditions are suspected to have contributed to a relatively minor accident at Continental Liquors on 13th Street shortly after 6 p.m., where a passenger car allegedly attempting to elude an off-duty Ashland police officer after running a red light, ended up crashing a black Jeep 4X4 into the rear of the business. The impact damaged some of the merchandise inside the store, leaving a whiskey-tinged greeting for customers as they walked through the front door.
While details about the incident were limited, a spokesman for the Ashland Police Department said the driver fled the scene after the accident, leaving the vehicle and license plate information behind.
Driving his 1987 Chevy half-ton 4X4 pickup truck equipped with a salt spreader and snowplow attachment, Allen Helmstetler of Allen�s Lawn Care quickly and carefully weaved his vehicle between incoming and exiting cars and trucks in the parking lot at a Speedway convenience store as he worked to quickly clear the busy lot and gas pumps of the accumulated snowfall.
�It�s darn near impossible this place is so busy. It has been hectic,� he said with a grin. �For me it�s a good thing and this year�s been one of the best years we�ve had in a while.�
Helmstetler said he expected to clear approximately 20 parking lots by the end of the day Saturday, with enough jobs to keep him going until past midnight. The plow-truck driver added he welcomes any other calls for similar work.
�They can call me at (304) 412-6262. I could use the business,� he said.
Highway crews were active in practically every county in the state except a few in the north that were bypassed by the storm, according to highway officials.
�Our crews will work around the clock to push as much snow as possible,� acting Transportation Cabinet Secretary Mike Hancock said. �Motorists who must travel in the impacted areas should use extreme caution.�
