Snow, ice delight children, frustrate drivers

Compact snow and ice that turned into slush caused a handful of wrecks around the region and delayed or canceled several schools Tuesday morning.

But the sub-freezing temperatures didn’t deter everyone. Children and their parents bundled up to enjoy some downhill fun around the Tri-Cities.

Emergency officials responded to a rollover just before noon Tuesday at West Dogwood and Taylor Flats roads in Franklin County, north of Pasco.

Lane Heaton, 20, of Richland, was driving a Mazda pickup north on Taylor Flats when he lost control because of snow and slush on the roadway, said Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy Ruben Bayona.

The pickup went off the road, into a ditch and rolled, Bayona said. Heaton was pinned underneath the vehicle but rescuers were able to get him out. He was taken by ambulance to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland with unknown injuries.

Bayona said it’s unknown whether the driver was wearing a seat belt. Officials are still investigating.

A semi-truck and trailer became stuck on the snow and ice covered Taylor Flats Road near North Cherry Drive in Franklin County early Tuesday, blocking the roadway and traffic. No injuries were reported.

The Tri-City forecast for Wednesday calls for sunny skies, with a high near 38, according to the National Weather Service.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 12:29 PM with the headline "Snow, ice delight children, frustrate drivers."