Record March 18

By Susan Larson | The Daily Journal

Published Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Snow results in accidents:

Falling snow and a slippery roadways Monday contributed to an accident around 10:35 a.m. on County Highway 35, a half-mile north of I94 near Dalton.

Matthew Christopher Hobbs, 44, Underwood, was traveling south on County Highway 35, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department. As he began to negotiate a left-hand curve, he slid sideways upon entering the curve, losing control and entering an east ditch sideways. He rolled over before the vehicle came to rest on its wheels.

Hobbs complained of minor back and rib pain, but he didn’t seek medical treatment. The 2003 GMC Denali he was driving sustained about $5,000 worth of damage.

Bus damaged:

There were no passengers on an Underwood School bus when it swerved to avoid a collision Monday.

Around 6:45 a.m., bus driver Bethany Alice Bowen, 43, was driving on County Highway 35, a half-mile south of County Highway 18 near Underwood, enroute to her first pick-up of the day, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department. As she negotiated a right-hand curve south of County Highway 18, Bowen saw an oncoming vehicle that appeared to be slightly over the center line. She moved to the right side of her lane to avoid a collision and the front right wheel of the bus dropped into the ditch.

Bowen corrected her course and returned the bus to the driving lane.

The bus sustained about $3,000 worth of damage. There was falling snow and the road was slippery at the time.