Drivers on icy roads will be cited

GREENVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) - The Darke County sheriff warned private snowplow companies, they were getting in the way of the clean-up.

Darke County was still in a level 1 snow emergency on Monday. Most of the main roads were clear, but sheriff's officials said many secondary and rural roads were still covered thick ice and snow.

With more snow expected in the region, Sheriff Toby Spencer warned motorists to that Level 3 snow emergencies are serious business. Spencer said, dozens of independent snow plow operators ignored the level three snow emergency on Friday and Saturday, and got themselves into quite an icy situation..

"I can appreciate the fact that they want to help, but they're not helping when they get stranded and we can't get through to people," said Spencer.

Some of the stranded vehicles blocked the way for fire trucks, ambulances, and police, delaying response time for people who needed help.

"I will not hesitate to tell road crews, the state, county, and township road crews, if they have to get through, to shove those vehicles off into side ditches. We'll worry about it come springtime," said Spencer.

Sheriffs officials said, at one point 56 vehicles were stuck in the snow. It took county road crews 8 hours to get them all out.

"That's eight hours they could have spent plowing roads but spent 8 hours getting stranded motorists out of the roadsways."

Sheriff Spencer said he only issued level 3 advisories when conditions were treacherious. Next time, those caught out in the snow without a good reason, would be cited.

"I've already talked to the judge.. and we are going to cite them," said Spencer.

Sheriff's officials are now getting ready for the next storm. Sheriff Spencer said some of his own employees were stranded during the last round of snow, this time he was making accomodations in the Sheriff's office to keep them overnight, so they could would not have problems getting to and from work.