Brrr ... Snowstorm snarls traffic, closes roads

A fast-moving snowstorm blasted northern Utah Wednesday during the evening commute, closing roads and bringing traffic to a standstill in a harsh reminder that winter is not yet finished.

The storm hit hardest in Utah County. "We just have crashes all over," Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden said around 6 p.m.

In Saratoga Springs, where the storm caused some of the most severe problems, the calls started pouring in to dispatch centers around 3:45 p.m.

Slick roads and high winds caused a 12-car pileup at Redwood Road and Lehi Main in Saratoga Springs. Dozens of people, including children, were hurt in accidents that littered the county's roadsides, but no major injuries were reported Wednesday night.

"Things are nasty all over the north end of the county," said Utah County Sheriff's Lt. Wally Perschon. "Saratoga Springs and Lehi are battling to get the roads cleared. We've had a bunch of fender-benders. Several people were hurt, but nothing major."

All of Redwood Road was shut down in Utah County by 6 p.m. Motorists in the area gathered at a nearby grocery store, where a manager relayed messages from police to the hundreds of people roaming the aisles. As the evening progressed, people were seen buying pillows and blankets, preparing to spend the night.

Multiple crashes closed state Route 73 to Eagle Mountain, bringing traffic to a complete stop for several hours. Traffic was starting to move about 10 p.m.

Around 5:30 p.m., two semitrailers jackknifed near the Point of the Mountain, "clogging up traffic big time," Roden said. "They're backed up past American Fork."

Bus loads of students from the Alpine School District were stuck on the impassable roads. Students were returned to their schools until parents could get them.

About 180 students, teachers and parents were still at Ridgeline Elementary School at 10:30 p.m., said Alpine School District spokeswoman Rhonda Bromely.

Parents who came to pick up their children became stuck as roads in the area closed. Neighbors brought food, blankets and pillows to the school, while some planned to spend the night.

Ridgeline, Pony Express and Harvest Hills elementary schools are scheduled to start at 11 a.m. today, with buses starting at 10:30 a.m., Bromely said

After receiving a call from a woman stuck with her children in an SUV that had tipped on its side, Utah County Sheriff's deputies searched roadsides for some time before finding the vehicle in the sideways-blowing snow.