External fuel tank with bundles of Marijuana (Courtesy: YCSO)

CORDES LAKES, AZ. (NAZ Today)– A routine traffic stop on northbound I-17 in Yavapai County turned into a major drug bust.

Just after sunset Tuesday evening, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over a Dodge work truck for reckless driving heading north on I-17 near Cordes Lakes.  The deputy noticed that the driver, 37-year-old Nigel Davis from Spring Valley, NY, was acting strangely.  The vehicle was registered in another name, and the deputy became suspicious when Davis gave him two different stories when asked about where he was heading and where he came from.

342 pounds of marijuana was seized from the truck (Courtesy: YCSO)

As the two talked, a YCSO K9 deputy arrived and began walking his K9 around Davis’ truck.  Aros, the K9, began barking, alerting the deputies that the dog had detected something in the truck.  Davis consented to a search of the vehicle, and deputies found a recently-installed external fuel tank that Aros continued to bark at.  Deputies took Davis into custody and moved the truck to a safer location for inspection.

The truck bed was searched, and the deputies found that the external fuel tank served as an opening to a hidden compartment in the truck bed.  Deputies found 342 pounds of marijuana inside the compartment.

Nigel Davis (Courtesy: YCSO)

Davis is being held at the Camp Verde Detention Center on a $300,000 bail for transportation of marijuana for sale and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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.

I-17 North bound at mile post 235.6 (New River) – Road closed due to landslide at MP 237/Cordes Junction area.

Desert View Drive, the eastern-most portion of the Grand Canyon rim road, is closed and
expected to remain closed for the evening.

I-17/I-40: Closed as of 6pm until further notice.

State route 89A closed from Flagstaff to Sedona.

SR-89A SB @ MP 342.8 (Prescott/Sedona) – Road has reopened following mudslide

US 180 (mile post 236.8 to 250, Flagstaff) is closed and is expected to remain closed for the rest of this week.

SR 87 NB: One lane closed due to mud/rockslide just south off Slate Creek/Sunflower (approx. MP 200)- highway may be closed due to unstable roadway conditions.

SR 87 @ mp 338.9 (Holbrook Dist, Winslow area) – Highway has reopened with chains and 4-wheel drive required between Winslow and Pine/Strawberry.

SR 260: 4-wheel drive and chains are required between Heber and Payson.

Hermit Road, the western-most portion of the Grand Canyon Rim Road is closed until further noticed due to poor driving conditions.

SR 97 at mile post  157 (Kingman Dist, Wikieup area) – Highway closed due to flooding and rocks.

US 60, Globe to Show Low — Chains or4-wheel drive required (Salt River Canyon).

SR 88 mp 213-226 (Globe)- Closed due to flooding.

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Check back here at NAZ Today for updates on the latest road closures and conditions.

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.

Several highways are closed around nothern Arizona. A DPS officer instructs a motorist to turn around. (Photo: Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

WEDNESDAY, 10:30 AM:   I-40 reopened this morning, along with SR 260 and SR 87 between Winslow and Payson, and Heber and Payson. Snow and ice are still on these roadways, so ADOT advises that motorists drive with caution.

UPDATE (9 PM)– I-40 remains closed this evening between Ash Fork and Flagstaff (mileposts 146-196).  I-17 Northbound is open at milepost 299 to Flagstaff.  I-40 East at milepost 72 in western Arizona is closed now due to weather.

FLAGSTAFF (NAZ Today)– (6:00 PM)– Heavy snowfall and wind have caused ADOT and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to close several highways around the northern part of the state this evening.

Interstate 40 is closed between Butler Avenue in Flagstaff and Ash Fork due to several accidents, according to DPS Spokesman Howard Sanders, including a multi-vehicle pileup near Williams and a collision between two semi trucks near Bellemont.  In total, Sanders says that DPS has responded to over 20 collisions and nearly 50 slid-offs on Interstates 40 and 17.  “DPS is requesting the motoring public to drastically slow down their travel speeds to prevent loss of vehicle control, collisions and slide-offs,” said Sanders.

ADOT is reporting that 1-17 has become nearly impassable from State Route 179 north to Munds Park, resulting in its closure.  The road is closed fro SR 179 to I40 in Flagstaff. Just before the closure, DPS Spokesman Sanders says that stretch of road was becoming too dangerous for travel.  “The snowfall, slippery roadway conditions and continuous collisions and slide-offs may result on the closure of Interstate 17,” says Sanders.

A Gila County Sheriff's deputy turns motorists around in Star Valley. SR 260 is closed this evening. (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

Elsewhere, snowfall began around 4 pm at the lower elevations on the front of the Mogollon Rim.  Payson saw between 1-2 inches between 4:00 and 4:30 pm, with heavier snow falling along and on top of the Mogollon Rim, prompting officials to close State Routes 87 and 260.  SR 260 eastbound is closed to through traffic on the east end of Star Valley, with a hard closure at Little Green Valley, nine miles east of Payson.  Westbound, SR 260 is closed at Heber/Overgaard.

State Route 87 North is closed to all traffic (hard closure) at the northern Payson city limits (Home Depot roundabout), according to a Payson Police Department spokesperson.  Southbound, SR 87 is closed at the Winslow city limits.

State Route 87 is closed between Payson and Winslow due to snow and poor visibility. (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

Public safety officials from around northern Arizona are urging people to stay off the road and avoid travel if possible.

For the latest road conditions and updates, visit the ADOT Traffic Conditions website, www.az511.com or dial 5-1-1 on your mobile phone.

An ADOT snowplow clears part of State Route 87 in Payson. Plows will be working through the night across northern Arizona to clear and reopen state and US highways, along with Interstates 17 and 40. (Patrick Walker/NAZ Today)

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.

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened new northbound lanes on Interstate 17 north of Phoenix just in time for next week’s Thanksgiving travel crush.

The two new northbound lanes between Jomax Road and the Carefree Highway include a carpool lane.

ADOT said the roadway opening is the latest milestone for a $142 million project to add much-needed traffic capacity between Loop 101 and Carefree Highway.

ADOT previously opened two new northbound lanes between Loop 101 and Jomax Road on Nov. 9 and two new southbound lanes between Happy Valley Road and Loop 101 on October 29.

On The Net:

www.valleyfreeways.com.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

The accident involved a motorcycle and three other vehicles.   According to the release, two injured drivers were transported to local area hospitals for treatment.   There was one fatality, a man identified by DPS as 56-year-old Terry Steven Scully of Phoenix.  By 10 pm, the Arizona Department of Transportation, providing traffic control around the accident, had one of the two northbound lanes reopened while DPS officials began investigating the accident.

A DPS spokesperson, via E-mail, said that the department is still investigating, and the specific details of the collision are still being determined.