‘Don’t go down hills’: Clackamas County residents reckon with cars stuck in snow overnight as region begins to thaw

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — As the greater Portland metro area region thaws out from two rounds of winter weather for the past two days, some people who were forced to abandon their cars stuck in snow overnight are attempting to salvage their vehicles.

In Clackamas County, officials and motorists reported two intersections that still had closures on Friday morning after overnight snow and freezing rain. By Friday afternoon, most major highways were cleared but those living on back roads and hills near Happy Valley were still struggling with closed roads lined with cards.

KOIN 6 News talked to multiple people digging their cars out of banks of ice and snow.

“Working on it still. Came back this morning, came back again. Looks like they’re towing everybody,” said one car owner, named James.

“My wife’s car, basically she was trying to stop and then it slid. We live down the hill so, I just told her, ‘Hey I’ll come pick you up then,'” said Markell, who explained he was returning to his wife’s car that got stuck overnight.

A parade of cars were parked along two closures: One at Johnson Creek Boulevard near 92nd Avenue and another off of Southeast Highway 224 near 135th Avenue. Several car owners said they were forced to abandon their vehicles overnight.

“As I was winding through, I got to right about here and something caught my tires. My car was going straight and slid straight into the slide,” said Hunter Steele.

He said he quickly guided his car to the curb to avoid hitting the nearly 15 vehicles stacked up along 135th. However, despite his best efforts, his car got hit multiple times.

“I had gotten out of my car about thirty seconds when another car came in, got stuck in the exact same spot and slid right into the back of my car,” Steele said. “I was worried it was going to get a lot worse than it actually did. It’s pretty nice that it’s actually still driveable, so I’m, going to get it out of here.”

The hills near the intersection were cleared of cars, one by one. Soon, snowplows stepped in.

At the Johnson Creek road closure near 92nd, a Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputy told KOIN 6 he found about 10 cars piled up overnight.

Officials said 12 trucks comprised of county and Happy Valley rigs are still working to sand and de-ice the region.

When asked what advice he would give to others during snowstorms like this, Markell said, “Don’t go down hills, no hills. If you can stay on flat roads, stay on flat roads.”

He added using TriMet public transportation is also a good idea for people who aren’t used to putting chains on their tires.

Officials with Clackamas County said those two remaining road closures should be back open soon.