Ice, snow cause several accidents

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper was injured this morning in Carson City when a vehicle lost control and rear-ended his parked patrol vehicle near another accident scene.

Trooper Chris Austin was in his NHP Ford Expedition about 7:30 a.m. on the southbound shoulder of the freeway just past the exit to North Carson Street when a southbound motorist lost control of her Subaru station wagon and struck the rear of Austin's SUV, said Trooper Chuck Allen.

Austin sustained injuries to his neck and head and was taken by ambulance to Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center. He was treated and released and will be off duty for several days recovering, said Allen. The driver who struck his vehicle was not injured.

Ice and snow contributed to a number of accidents this past weekend in Northern Nevada.

Allen said troopers responded to 17 accidents Saturday and 24 Sunday. Additionally, there were several spin-outs in the Washoe Valley area this morning due to blowing snow and high winds.

About noon, three tractor trailers slid off the Old 395 and ended up in ditches because of high winds and low visibility. No injuries were reported.

Allen said most of the accidents involved were property damage only.