The Nelson Fire Department responded to two separate accidents on Highway 3A this morning, two and five kilometers west of the city.
The on-duty crew responded to the first call, finding two vehicles with extensive damage. In a news release, the fire department didn't say exactly what happened, but stated that although airbags had deployed, injuries were minor. One person was taken to hospital by a family member.
Slippery road conditions as a result of today's snowfall were a contributing factor.
Before the first accident had been cleaned up, a second call for an accident came in and off-duty members were called into attend. In this case, a single vehicle slid off the road and down the embankment toward the railway tracks. Again, extensive damage occurred but injuries appeared to be minor.
"With the arrival of the wet, slippery snow, citizens of Nelson should be sure to have good snow tires, and to ensure they are ready for winter driving," Capt. Rick Maida said. "Proper snow tires, indicated by the snowflake symbol on the side greatly improves a vehicle's handling capabilities in snowy conditions."
• Around 10:30 this morning, heavy snow caused a tree branch to hit a power line on Wasson Street, resulting in sparks, flame, and smoke in the tree. The fire put itself out given the wet conditions, once the tree was no longer touching the line.
Nelson Fire and Rescue attended the scene to assess the risk and keep the area clear until Nelson Hydro crews arrived to trim the tree.