Snow volume causing traffic snarls, collisions throughout York Region

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 11, 2014
By Jeremy Grimaldi

Rollovers, collisions and cars in ditches have been common sights this morning on York Region roads due to the first major snowfall of the season.

Even more than collisions, motorists are reporting the sheer volume of snow causing vehicles to get stuck on the roads, complaining a 45-minute drive can take upwards of three hours, according to York Regional Police.

The force has reported 30 collisions since 4 a.m., including a rollover at Keele Street and 16th Avenue.

Vaughan has seen the most incidents, with 15, but traffic is heaviest in Markham.

Keep up to date with the weather in York Region.

"There are always those people who drive too quickly, people who have four-wheel drive, but that doesn't help you stop," said Const. Andy Pattenden. "For people that haven't got their snow tires on yet, today is a good reminder."

Aurora received 14 centimetres of snow last night, with Environment Canada suggesting a further 5 cm will fall before the drive home, then an additional 2 cm before midnight, with wind gusts up to 50 km/h.

The temperature is forecast to stay around -3 C into the evening.

Meanwhile, police are reporting two vehicles, including a high-end Audi, were stolen from driveways yesterday while warming.

In Toronto, two school buses in ditches were among about 50 collisions.

Much of York Region is under an Environment Canada snowfall warning, meaning it could be hit with as much as 20 cm of snow during the day.