NAZ Today’s Matt Tantau is reporting that at least three separate accidents, with one involving a semi, have brought traffic to a stop in some places and a line of cars about a mile long in the southbound lanes coming from Flagstaff.

These accidents are the latest in a string of crashes during the most recent winter storm, which has dropped several inches of snow around Flagstaff since Saturday night.

One of the vehicles involved in three separate rollover accidents on I-17 Saturday night between 10 and 11 pm. (Chad Black/APSN.us)

Late Saturday night, three separate roll-over accidents occured between Kachina Village and Munds Park on I-17 within an hour of each other.  APSN’s Chad Black says that at least seven vehicles were involved, and six people were injured with one person sustaining life-threatening injuries.

Meteorologist Matt Tantau is forecasting an additional 2-4 inches of snow for the area this evening through early Monday morning.

DPS Command Post set up at the ADOT Flagstaff District Office on Milton Road (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

*This story first appeared Monday, 1/18*

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– The threat of several feet of snow this week has prompted the Department of Public Safety to set up a command post in Flagstaff.

After working with a “skeleton crew” earlier this morning, a full shift’s worth of DPS officers were on duty by the afternoon hours in the Flagstaff area, according to DPS Sgt. Brian Eekhoff.  He said that there were already a number of slide-offs that officers were responding to on area highways and interstates.  If the number of slide-offs and accidents continues to grow, Eekhoff says that additional officers could be called in from other towns like Camp Verde and Prescott.

Back in December, DPS officers were very busy during the snowstorm that included a blizzard at one point.  Because of the number of officers working during the storm and the area that had to be covered, it was hard to coordinate efforts with other departments.  ”We had some trouble communicating with ADOT during the peak of the storm, so we decided to set up a command post right here [at the ADOT District Office on Milton],” Sgt. Eekhoff said.  The command post will allow for supervisors to more effectively communicate with ADOT officials next door in their offices, helping to coordinate information on road conditions, accident locations, and road closures as needed.

ADOT snow plows in formation clear Milton Road in front of Target. DPS is working to better coordinate with ADOT. (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

Eekhoff also says that there is somewhat of a pattern with the accidents that happen during snowstorms.  He says that the bulk of the accidents and slide-offs that DPS responds to happen when the storms are just starting, or while you can still see asphalt.  Out of town drivers, especially motorists from California heading east on I-40 or from Phoenix heading north on I-17, continue driving at normal speeds and hit the slick roads, causing the accidents.  Accidents tend to decrease in frequency when the roads become snow-packed and several inches have accumulated on the side of the road, because motorists slow down and drive more carefully with the presence of the snow, Eekoff added.

DPS Command Vehicle (NAZ Today/Patrick Walker)

As always, DPS reminds motorists to slow down and increase stopping distances during times of bad weather.  Be mindful of stopped vehicles and emergency workers near accidents.

DPS reports indicate that one of the commercial tractor trailers owned by Schneider National Inc. was traveling west bound, up a hill when it was rear-ended by another commercial tractor trailer traveling at a higher rate of speed.  As a result of  the impact the fuel tanks on one of the tractor-trailers ruptured and ignited a fire.  The trailer of the Schneider National truck was consumed along with the tractor trailer that ran into the back of the Schneider truck.

Hazardous Materials Technicians from DPS and the Flagstaff Fire Department were called to the scene because the Schneider National trailer contained a load of hazardous materials which included lighter fluid and 300 pounds of an unknown corrosive material.

I-40 was closed in both directions. At 7:19 a.m. I-40 was reopened to westbound traffic after the fire had been extinguished and experts on scene determined the hazardous materials did not pose a threat to air quality.

The driver and co-driver of the first vehicle were not injured in the collision. The driver and co-driver of the second vehicle were both transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center where they were treated for non life threatening injuries.

DPS investigators believe that driver fatigue may have been a factor in this accident.

All lanes of I-40 re-opened at about 11 a.m.

A multiple-vehicle collision caused by blowing dust is seen Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009 on Interstate 10 near Kortsen Road in Casa Grande, Ariz. sudden dust storm has spawned 20 or more collisions Tuesday on Interstate 10 in central Arizona, with several vehicles catching fire. (AP Photo/Casa Grande Dispatch, Steven King)

PHOENIX (AP) — A sudden dust storm Tuesday spawned a series of collisions involving as many as 20 vehicles on Interstate 10 south of Phoenix, leaving at least three people dead.

Arizona Department of Public Safety officials said other casualties were airlifted to Phoenix hospitals with severe burns and other traumatic injuries.

A second series of accidents was reported farther south along the main route between Tucson and Phoenix. High winds and blowing dust were also reported west of Phoenix, and the highway patrol was urging drivers headed to Phoenix from California to drive with extreme caution.

The midday accidents led authorities to close I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. It was expected to remain blocked for at least several hours.

Both directions of Interstate 40 in northern Arizona were also closed west of Flagstaff because of high winds and snow.

Traffic backed up for miles as I-10, a major east-west thoroughfare, was shut down in both directions at milepost 190 near Casa Grande. Dust and thick gray smoke from burning vehicles billowed across the flat sprawl of farms and desert.

The highway patrol said a commercial vehicle exploded, so a hazardous materials team was dispatched to the scene.

Video shot by a television helicopter showed the smoking hulks of several big-rig trucks, a passenger van and unrecognizable debris along about 300 yards of the eastbound lanes about 10 miles north of the junction with Interstate 8. In the westbound lanes, an injured person was loaded on a medical helicopter.

The highway was likely be closed in both directions for the better part of the day as state engineers look at the roadway, said Officer Robert Bailey, a Department of Public Safety spokesman.

“ADOT engineers have to get out there and examine the pavement and see if it’s OK to be driven on after these fires,” Bailey said.

The storm arrived fast and furious Tuesday morning, said David Bridger, a spokesman for the city of Casa Grande.

“This one came on so very, very quickly,” Bridger said. “We knew it was something pretty serious coming. It is absolutely a major, major wind storm down here.”

DPS said visibility was poor as the dust storm remained in the area.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

Officer Henscheid (Photo Courtesy of DPS)

 Department of Public Safety duty officer Andrew Dobbins says the accident occurred early Sunday morning as the officer was assisting with a collision along the northbound lane.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

The D.P.S Ranger Helicopter was also flown in to assist in the rescue efforts because ground crews were not immediately able to access the vehicle scene.  Once crews were able to reach the vehicle they discovered four victims, all of which were deceased.  All of the victims were members of a church group.  YCSO officials have released the names of the victims.  Kevin Waycaster, 47, and his son, Micah, 16, of Glendale; Garry Schneider, 67, of Phoenix; and Robert “Bob” Fisher, in his 70s, from Phoenix.

YCSO spokesperson Dwight Develyn says deputies on the scene are reporting that the victim’s families have overwhelming support from the various church groups who participated in this event. The investigation and recovery operation will continue throughout the day.

Northbound traffic on Milton stretches far down the street as police investigate the accident. (Photo: Leslie Lello/NAZ Today)

Nov. 20th update:  The Flagstaff Medical Center is reporting that Tracy Judd, the victim of this accident has died.

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– A traffic accident backed up traffic on Milton Road and Plaza Way Tuesday evening.

Northbound traffic on Milton stretches far down the street as police investigate the accident. (Photo: Leslie Lello/NAZ Today

Traffic is backed up after an SUV struck a pedestrian on the southwest corner of Milton and Plaza.

Milton Road and Plaza Way will be closed for a few hours to investigate the accident.  The patient has been transported to Flagstaff Medical Center in serious condition.