Snow storm blamed for one death, praised for moisture in Panhandle

The latest round of winter weather has been a blessing and a curse, bringing much-needed moisture to far northwest Oklahoma but claiming a life in the northeast.

Up to 12 inches of snow was reported in the Boise City area of the Oklahoma Panhandle, while amounts elsewhere ranged from .03 inches in Orienta to 3 inches in Meeker, the National Weather Service reported.

A man was killed early Wednesday when he lost control of his vehicle on a slick, snow-laden street in Tulsa, police said.

Amir Marvdahsti, whose age was not immediately available, was driving on Peoria when his car slid sideways into a traffic sign pole, killing him, police spokesman Andy Phillips said.

In Oklahoma City, six people were treated at hospitals early Wednesday after a 20-car pileup on Interstate 40. It began shortly after 11 p.m. Tuesday in the eastbound lanes of the I-40 bridge over Interstate 44 in west Oklahoma City.

Officials believe a pickup truck spun out of control on the icy road and hit several other vehicles before coming to rest in the middle of the bridge.

One man suffered a broken jaw and a shoulder injury and a woman lost consciousness. She and four others were eventually treated and released from local hospitals.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported 49 accidents from 11 p.m.

Tuesday through Wednesday, 22 of which involved injuries, spokeswoman Deanna Hargus said.

In Oklahoma City, Sgt. Cris Cunningham said police responded to 19 injury accidents on city streets between midnight and 2 p.m.

Wednesday. Oklahoma City officers also worked 29 non-injury wrecks from after midnight to 7 a.m., when they stopped responding to such accidents.

Although the snow caused motorists headaches, it was welcomed by some agricultural producers in the Panhandle.

Jerretta Dietrick and husband, Bob, farm wheat near Tyrone, which received more than 4 inches of snow. Mrs. Dietrick said the wintery precipitation in other parts of the state in December had bypassed her area.

"It's been like living in the middle of a doughnut," she said.

"We needed this desperately."

The moisture will help the wheat when it enters the spring growing season.

Parts of the state are still trying to return to normalcy after the deadly and destructive Dec. 25 ice storm.

Michaelann Ooten, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Civil Emergency Management, said while there are no lingering reports of power outages on Wednesday, 700 customers in the state still had no telephone service because of the Christmas Day storm.

"There may still be people out there whose structures are unable to receive electricity at this time," Ooten said. ". . .

some repair situations may be needed in those cases."

Ooten said there had been no requests for help for the latest winter storm.

Forecasters say rain or light snow is possible in southern Oklahoma early Wednesday, but chances will dwindle to slight during the day. Highs Thursday are forecast to reach the 30s statewide and range from the teens to the 30s overnight.