Car accidents and spinouts come with snow in South Lake Tahoe

4:11 pm 3/1/15 Update from Jeff Munson, CarsonNow.org:

Six people were injured in a weather related head-on crash Saturday morning on Highway 50 near Zephyr Cove, a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper said. One woman remains in serious condition.

The accident was reported at 8:48 a.m. and involved a Toyota Camry, occupied by five people, three males and two females, and a Volvo, driven by a Carson City resident.

According to NHP Trooper Daniel Lopez, the Camry was going eastbound on Highway 50 and crossed over into the westbound lane, striking the Volvo head-on, said Lopez.

The injured were taken to Renown Medical Center in Reno and Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, said Lopez. Speed and weather were factors in the crash. Chain controls were in effect at the time of the accident, he said.

Original Story:

Chains or snowtire controls were required on most roads overnight after several inches of snow fell in the Lake Tahoe region. Road crews are clearing roads and with a trace amount of snow expected Sunday, controls should go down during the day.

With the snow came a few accidents, including a major two car accident that caused major delays near Hidden Woods Drive on Saturday morning.

A man was arrested for a DUI early Sunday morning in South Lake Tahoe after causing a two-car accident on Pioneer Trail. A full report is not yet available but Sgt. Brandon Auxier of the SLT Police Department said the driver crossed into the path of an oncoming car on Pioneer Trail near Woodine Road at 3 a.m.

Both lanes of traffic were closed as emergency personnel cleared the roadway. No injuries were reported and the alleged drunk driver is now at the El Dorado County Jail.

SLTPD reports there were other calls overnight, mainly due to cars sliding off the roadway.

On Saturday, the NHP reported a two car head on accident near Hidden Woods Drive. Six people were transported to the hospital, three to Barton Memorial Hospital and three to Renown Hospital in Reno. A car with five passengers, all from Southern California, was headed eastbound on Hwy 50 when it crossed over the line into a car driven by a Carson City resident.

Officers said that driving too fast for conditions was the cause.

All persons involved had serious injuries.

The Whittell High School Nordic Team was among those stopped by the long line of resulting traffic. Cars didn't move for an hour and the area had partially closed lanes for almost two hours. Stateline resident Tony Grasso, owner of Hot Springs Spa in Carson City, was one of those stuck in traffic. He told South Tahoe Now that the accident looked very bad. "The cars were so mangled that I'd be surprised if everyone lived," he said.