accidents

Seven outstanding restoration, sustainability, and construction projects were recognized as recipients of Best in the Basin awards by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) during an online meeting of the agency’s Governing Board. The projects and programs each exhibit outstanding planning and execution and lead the way in environmental stewardship in the Lake Tahoe Region, according to the agency.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Barton Memorial Hospital received news of another ‘A’ grade for patient safety from the Leapfrog Group. Assessment data from 28 quality measurements demonstrated better patient outcomes at the Lake Tahoe hospital; the result of collaborative, team-driven systems in place at Barton Health that protect patients from harm.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a few weeks (though it may seem like months) since business shut their doors, nonessential workers were asked to stay home and nonessential travel came to a screeching halt in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's been a busy day on the highways around Lake Tahoe today with several accidents and road closures.

As of 5:00 p.m. Saturday, law enforcement and rescue teams have responded to a reported head-on collision on Pioneer Trail, west of Golden Bear, a collision on Pioneer Trail and US 50 in Meyers, a collision on US 50 at Kyburz, a car off the roadway on SR89 near Emerald Bay and two collisions on US88 near Kirkwood. There are also numerous collisions on I80 and on the North Shore.

Caltrans addressed what they reported to be an increase of accidents at the intersection of US50 and SR89 with a $7.3 million roundabout in Meyers, and today there was a ribbon-cutting with local partners to officially open it up.

What used to be a T-intersection with one stop sign is now a three-leg roundabout with a bypass lane. Years of studies, planning, environmental reviews, and engineering led to this past summer's build by Q&D Construction.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With three major road construction projects on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe this summer, both residents and visitors alike will have their patience put to the test as they navigate local roads.

Not only will CalTrans have three major projects on Highway 50 between Echo Summit and Al Tahoe Boulevard, but the City of South Lake Tahoe will have their own road projects going on at Sierra Boulevard and Gardner Mountain.

It truly will be a six-month-long "Road Construction Season."

The Winter of 2019 just doesn't want to let spring make its entrance and another series of small storms will be in the Lake Tahoe and Sierra all week. Snow levels dropped about 500 feet lower than anticipated in heavier precipitation bands with snow currently falling down to 4000-4500 feet this morning.

1-6" of snow has fallen in the Sierra overnight and chain controls remain in effect as of the time of writing. While lighter snow will continue this morning,

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) plans to start work in April on their $4.1M project to convert the existing T-intersection at US50 and SR89 in Meyers into a three-leg roundabout.

Federal funds will be used to create what transportation officials say is a safety project by reducing the number and/or severity of collisions at the intersection. At this intersection there were 16 accidents on the Highway 50 side, and four accidents on the Highway 89 side from 2008 to 2013. There were no fatalities in those accidents.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tonight is an excellent time to stay off the roads around Lake Tahoe. As of 7:20 p.m. I80 remains closed from the CA/NV state line and Applegate. US 50 over Echo Summit was closed at 7:00 p.m. for avalanche control and SR 88 is closed from Peddler Vista to Red Lake Creek/the Carson Pass. SR 267 at Northstar is closed as is the Mt. Rose Highway, SR 431.

SR 89 around Emerald Bay has not opened since the storms last week and remains closed.

On the roads that are open, vehicles stuck in snow and accidents have been reported.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you were planning on crossing the Sierra this evening, you'll have to change those plans now that US50 over Echo Summit has been added to the road closure list.

Severe weather conditions have led to numerous accidents and stranded vehicles.

Snow at times has been falling at 4.5 inches an hour. Caltrans closed the roads for safety.

Current closures:

Interstate 80: Eastbound commercial vehicles are being turned at Applegate; passenger vehicles are being turned at Colfax. Westbound at the Nevada state line

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office started the S.T.A.R. program (Sheriff’s Team of Active Retirees) in 1994 with volunteers in Placerville and South Lake Tahoe. The volunteers help law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics to ensure public safety, by performing traffic controls and maintaining roadblocks.

UDPATE 1/13/19 - The second drowning victim has been recovered from Topaz Lake. The recovery efforts resumed today on at 9:00 a.m. by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine 7 and search and rescue units, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Specialized Vehicle Unit (SUV) and their HASTY Dive Team, and Wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Marine 7’s ROV located the body of Jesse Gregory, 50, at a depth of 22 feet.

The surviving fisherman, Scott Wise, has recovered and was released from the hospital.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On the heels of the banning of electric scooters in many cities, Governor Jerry Brown of California has signed a bill that mandates helmets for users only if they are under the age of 18 and if the scooter goes above 15 miles per hour.

The bill, authored by Republican Assemblyman Heath Flora of Ripon, was written to encourage scooter use to alleviate congestion on the state's roads and meet climate change goals of reducing car emissions.

The law takes effect Jan. 1, 2019.

A cub hit and killed by a car on Keller Road Monday night makes three bears who have died in the same manner in just 10 days on the South Shore. In the last three weeks, there have been a total of five hit by cars between Tahoma, South Lake Tahoe and Meyers according to Toogee Sielsch, South Lake Tahoe bear advocate.

In Monday's incident, a vehicle hit one of the three cubs born to Hazel, a neighborhood bear that residents have named and watched over. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

One sure sign of spring is the annual changing of the clock as Daylight Saving Time begins. On Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 2:00 a.m., most states will move their clocks forward one hour, the 100th anniversary of the Spring time change.

The state of Florida just voted to keep Daylight Saving Time year round, and Arizona and Hawaii don't move clocks forward at all.

CNN researchers came up with the following timeline for the clock change:

1784 - The idea of daylight saving is first conceived by Benjamin Franklin.

1914-1918 - Britain goes on DLS during World War I.

The snow has been falling all down in the Sierra, giving residents and visitors a glimpse into a winter that hasn't been even a slight resemblance into the big winter of 2017.

At this point, every seems to be happy with what fell Thursday. Snow totals aren't in from the ski resorts yet since they release them in the morning, but they most likely will be several inches and hovering near the one foot level.

Like Americans nationwide, Nevadans were more likely to die from heart disease or cancer in 2016 than other causes.

But one cause of death in the Silver State stands out compared with national trends: suicide. The number of suicides increased by 13 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to data provided by the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

It's a trend Washoe County's chief medical examiner and coroner, Dr. Laura Knight, has noticed locally.

There are slick roads Thursday morning as rain is falling at lake level and snow fluctuating above 7,000 feet.

The California Highway Patrol is reporting a jackknifed big rig on SR-88 just west of Silver Lake near Tragedy Springs Road. The truck is blocking the west bound lane and part of the east bound lane. Crews are on the scene of the incident which was reported at 7:43 a.m.

Chain controls are up east of Kirkwood on SR-88.

A 61-year-old man from Carson City has died from injuries sustained after being hit by a food truck in Carson City Friday morning.

Update 8/24 6PM - The size of the Genoa Peak Fire on the Carson Ranger District has been updated after the GPS mapped it 5.9 acres today. The fire is 75 percet contained with 100 percent containment expected by the end of today. There are currently 31 firefighters on scene.

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10:30 p.m. Sunday: Updated story below:

It has been a busy holiday weekend for the South Lake Tahoe fire and police departments.

The community is in for a treat on Saturday, May 20 as the South Lake Tahoe Police Department celebrates 50 years of service with a party at Lakeview Commons from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Locals and visitors, young and old, can ride on the SLTPD boat, see the department's K-9s, watch a demonstration over the water with CalStar at 3:00 p.m., watch how the drone assists in rescues, an awards ceremony that will honor three citizens as well as staff at 4:00 p.m., and a free BBQ. There is also a free concert on the beach.

To increase safety on not only Lake Tahoe, but on waterways across the state, operators of motorized vessels will soon be required to possess a California Boater Card. The first group to fall into this category, those 20 years of age or younger, must have a card by January 1, 2018 with other age groups added annually.

Those renting boats will not be required to get a card, nor will those in the state less than 60 days or holding a commercial fishing license.

Get ready for the second of two seasons for South Lake Tahoe: Road Construction (the other being winter).

Caltrans will start their almost $57 million project along Highway 50 (US50) from the "Y" to Trout Creek Bridge on May 1, 2017.