State Park Police are patrolling 35 miles of Route 219 by the only means available — snowmobile, according to Sgt. Tom Krawczyk.
Police have four snowmobiles deployed along the roadway to aid any stranded motorists who may have disregarded the road closure, he said. Troopers early Tuesday afternoon were focused primarily on the stretch from the Lackawanna tolls south to Rice Hill Road in Orchard Park. But officers have patrolled as far south as Peters Road in Springville where Krawczyk said the sun was actually shining early Tuesday afternoon.
“That shows you just how narrow this lake effect snow band is,” he said.
Krawczyk said snowmobilers encountered several disabled motor vehicles overnight and rescued stranded motorists who went around blockades on entrance ramps.
The officers at times had difficulty even seeing the front of their snowmobiles due to poor visibility, Krawczyk said. Their face masks offered little protection from the severe cold and wind they were encountering on the roadway, he added.
Meanwhile, Erie County officials said the Sheriff’s department was ready to deploy deputies in snowmobiles along the closed Aurora Expressway but that they would only be used if necessary.
And several volunteer fire departments — including Orchard Park and Eden — said members offered to use their personal snowmobiles to respond to emergencies.
jpopiolkowski@buffnews.com
Police have four snowmobiles deployed along the roadway to aid any stranded motorists who may have disregarded the road closure, he said. Troopers early Tuesday afternoon were focused primarily on the stretch from the Lackawanna tolls south to Rice Hill Road in Orchard Park. But officers have patrolled as far south as Peters Road in Springville where Krawczyk said the sun was actually shining early Tuesday afternoon.
“That shows you just how narrow this lake effect snow band is,” he said.
Krawczyk said snowmobilers encountered several disabled motor vehicles overnight and rescued stranded motorists who went around blockades on entrance ramps.
The officers at times had difficulty even seeing the front of their snowmobiles due to poor visibility, Krawczyk said. Their face masks offered little protection from the severe cold and wind they were encountering on the roadway, he added.
Meanwhile, Erie County officials said the Sheriff’s department was ready to deploy deputies in snowmobiles along the closed Aurora Expressway but that they would only be used if necessary.
And several volunteer fire departments — including Orchard Park and Eden — said members offered to use their personal snowmobiles to respond to emergencies.
jpopiolkowski@buffnews.com