December 27, 2004
CNN

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- A winter storm packing snow, sleet and freezing rain stranded hundreds of motorists on Interstate 95 in eastern North Carolina, knocked out power to thousands and caused hundreds of accidents. At least two traffic deaths were blamed on weather conditions.

Traffic on southbound I-95 in Wilson County was backed up to the Virginia line, said state public safety spokeswoman Patty McQuillan.

In Virginia, icy roads and as much as 14 inches of snow had drivers sliding off the roads by the dozen. "We are just inundated with accidents," said Sgt. D.S. Carr of the Virginia State Police. None of the wrecks there appeared serious, Carr said.

North Carolina officials said late Sunday that icy spots on northbound Interstate 95 in Nash and Wilson counties had traffic slowed to a crawl. But forecasters said relief was on the way later Monday as rising temperatures were expected to alleviate treacherous road ice.

State police were investigating two fatal accidents. A motorist who was speeding lost control of his car early Sunday on an icy highway in Wake County and was thrown from the vehicle. A second person was killed in a crash in Nash County.

Thousands of customers were still without power in several counties, but were expected to have the lights on by Monday afternoon, power officials said.

Meanwhile, to the north, power outages and travel delays were reported across eastern Massachusetts from wind-blown snow that began hammering the area Sunday, accumulating a foot or more in some areas.

Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, was operating a single runway Monday morning, and substantial delays were expected, said airport spokesman Phil Orlandella.

In Rhode Island, T.F. Green Airport in Warwick closed Sunday night as crews worked to clear runways. Some flights were diverted elsewhere, and delays were being registered at the airport on Monday morning.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/12/27/winter.storm.ap/index.html