February 12th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Local fire and emergency medical service units have been busy over the last 24 hours with weather related crashes, downed trees and power lines.  “Yesterday afternoon and evening as the precipitation began changing to freezing rain, sleet and snow we saw an increase in vehicle crashes, mainly in the central and western portions of the county,” Emergency Services Deputy Director Roger Bennett said. “The majority of these crashes were along the I-68 corridor from LaVale to Frostburg.”

 

Local fire department units from LaVale, Frostburg, Shaft and ambulances from Allegany County Department of Emergency Services EMS Division and LaVale Rescue Squad responded to several incidents Monday evening. 

 

Occupants from the crashes were transported to Western Maryland Regional Medical Center with minor injuries. 

 

Westbound I-68 was closed briefly late Monday as fire crews assisted Maryland State Police and local tow companies with removing two tractor trailers that were involved in a collision just east of the Clarysville bridge. No injuries were reported with this incident. 

 

“As we moved through the night and into Tuesday, we are now seeing an increase call volume for trees and power lines down,” Bennett said. “Our Joint Communications Center has handled and dispatched fire department units on several of these reports throughout the county.”

 

The National Weather Service issued WINTER STORM WARNING continues for Allegany County until 7 p.m. Tuesday.