Freezing rain results in mayhem on Valley roads

WASILLA — It was Super Hero Day at Snowshoe Elementary, but that’s not what had kids “flying” on the way to school today in the Mat-Su Borough School District Friday morning.

Freezing rain began to fall while elementary students were in transit Friday morning, according to school district spokesperson Catherine Esary.

Several bus accidents occurred after the rain began around 9 a.m., she said. One accident on Edlund Road in the Knik-Fairview area closed the road this morning while emergency crews and First Student responded.

Wasilla resident Michelle Overstreet was behind the bus on Edlund when it began a slow-motion slide into the ditch and tipped onto its side.

“It just slid like the road was glass,” she said.

Overstreet and several other drivers stopped and helped the students out of the bus and sheltered them in their private vehicles.

She said the first boy she zipped into his coat described his experience inside.

“My friends were flying,” the boy told Overstreet. “My friend flew out of his seat and landed on top of me.”

Overstreet said the 14 Kindergarten through second grade students on the bus said they had been headed to Super Hero Day at Snowshoe Elementary School.

The bus was using chains and it still slid off the road, she said.

“Nobody should be out in this,” Overstreet said. “At some point we have to decide that the safety of our children superseded attendance requirements.”

Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Megan Peters cautioned Valley residents to stay home and off of roadways Friday. She said some Valley roads, like Vine, are impassable. Not just from ice, but also from the more than 20 vehicles off the road on just one hill, Peters said.

Vehicles on Vine were creeping along at 5 mph and still sliding sideways off the road.

“If you don’t have to leave your home, don’t,” she said.

Peters said Vine is just one example of icy road conditions impeding travel. She said many local roads have cars stuck in the middle of the road and off on the side because they just can’t get traction.

Troopers are turning people around in some spots when they encounter drivers and know the road ahead is impassable, she said.

Peters said road conditions also are hampering emergency responders. She said a couple of fire trucks have responded to incidents this morning and not been able to get enough traction to leave the scene.

Esary said thus far the district plans to continue with classes as usual today. She said when the rain began, parents were already on the road to work and students were already waiting at bus stops.

“Once we get kids on the road it’s better to bring them to school,” she said.

There was confusion in the district this morning after a message was sent to parents with a subject line that incorrectly said classes for elementary students were canceled. Esary said the subject line was written ahead of time when it appeared classes would be canceled today.

The district alerted parents of the error via its automated phone messaging system and announcements on the radio and on Facebook.

Winter weather advisory is in place for the Matanuska Valley through 5 a.m., Saturday. Rain is expected to switch back to snow this afternoon.