More than 300 crashes reported in wake of long weekend snowstorm

Waterloo Region continues to deal with the aftermath of that long weekend snowstorm that led to disarray on roads and police say, they’re still catching up due to the sheer number of crashes.

“It’s been a busy stretch here,” said Staff Sgt. Scott Griffiths with the Waterloo Regional Police Traffic Services Unit.

Griffiths said data current to Tuesday showed there were just over 300 reported collisions locally from Friday to Monday, but the final tally will likely be higher.

That’s because drivers continue to pile into the collision reporting centre to declare crashes.

“We have had a steady stream here at the police collision reporting centre since Monday,” Griffiths said. “There’s likely a siginificant number of more collisions that occurred that are just being reported now.”

Of the more than 300 collisions currently on record, 289 involved property damage and 12 involved personal injury.

Griffiths noted none of the reported injuries were life-threatening.

He said the weekend weather led to “one of the worst driving weekends” in the last several years and the winter isn’t over yet.

“We’ve had relatively good weather the last few winters but this seems to be one where it’s persistent and continuous, it’s not melting and going away anytime soon.”

Griffiths is asking drivers to add an extra layer of caution because of the lingering effects like narrowed roads, snow-covered lanes, and mammoth snowbanks.