Blizzard-like conditions cause hundreds of car crashes on Long Island

Thursday, December 17, 2020
Suffolk County hit with several inches of snow
Kristin Thorne has more on the major winter storm's impact on Suffolk County.

HICKSVILLE, Nassau County (WABC) -- A nor'easter dropped several inches of snow on Long Island making travel conditions nearly impossible.

"If you don't need to be on the roadway, stay off," Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said. "The roads are dangerous, icy, slick."

RELATED | Winter weather emergency resources for the New York area

The LIRR is running this morning with a few delays. They're running on the enhanced weekend schedule with eight additional trains.

Even with the delays, trains are definitely the safer bet.

Suffolk Co. Executive Steve Bellone holds news conference

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone gives an update on the snow storm conditions on Long Island.

In Suffolk County alone, they had more than 200 accidents. Bellone said Thursday morning, there weren't as many accidents happening, simply because people weren't out on the roads.

"We did have that mix where we saw the event turn to more sleet rain and that mixture and the accumulation will be right where we expected, somewhere between 6 and 10, 11 inches depending on where you are on the island," Bellone said.

Kristin Thorne reports from Huntington on the snow

Officials on Long Island urged drivers to stay off roads Thursday following a major snow storm.

All of the major roads have been cleared in Suffolk County and have been passed at least a couple of times by snowplows.

"There are no roads that are essentially down to asphalt, that's the work that's going to be done today," Bellone said.

Wednesday evening, there was a four-car pileup in Farmingville, at North Ocean Avenue and Horseblock Road. It was at the bottom of a hill, making it hard to stop for the vehicles involved. Thankfully, there were no injuries.

Crews are working to keep the roadways clear in Nassau County, but they're asking for the help of drivers.

Stacey Sager has more on the aftermath of an early-winter storm that dropped several inches of snow on Long Island.

"We want to make sure that if people can stay off the roads, please do stay off the roads. For your own safety, for the safety of others who have to be on the roads, and so our crews and the municipalities, their crews, can clear the roads and we can get this cleaned up as quickly as possible," said Laura Curran, Nassau County executive.

The LIRR gets suspended when there are 10 or more inches. So far, there is not enough snow to cause a suspension.

RELATED: Check here for school closings across the Tri-State area

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The LIRR announced it would be operating on an enhanced weekend schedule Thursday.

"Only travel if necessary, but if you must, please be cautious on station staircases and platforms and when boarding/exiting trains," an agency spokesperson said. "To help us run the best service possible as the storm intensifies and carries into Thursday, LIRR will operate on an enhanced weekend schedule...with eight extra trains."

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Your snow photos from the December 2020 snowstorm around the Tri-State area.

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