Friday October 27, 2023
Courthouse News Service —
Drivers passing through Donner Summit along Interstate 80 in the high Sierra, over 7,000 feet above sea level, didn’t expect significant snow.
People thought Wednesday would bring rain with only a light amount of snow. That changed around 2 p.m., according to Officer Carlos Perez with the California Highway Patrol.
“We were prepared, but a lot of people were not prepared,” the Truckee-based officer said. “It was definitely winter-driving conditions.”
Wednesday marked th first time this season that authorities implemented chain control over the summit on I-80, starting at 2:15 p.m. and lasting until 6:10 p.m. Vehicles needed four-wheel drive or chains to pass through.