NEGAUNEE - A winter storm brought nearly 18 inches of snow, high winds and hazardous driving conditions to parts of the Upper Peninsula by Monday. The weather contributed to at least two fatal accidents downstate while a serious pedestrian/vehicle accident occurred Monday in Marquette County.
Timothy Hardwick, 46, of Christmas, was seriously injured when he was walking east in the eastbound lane on M-28, near Timber Lane in Chocolay Township, and was struck by an eastbound pickup truck at 7:40 a.m., said Michigan State Police from the Negaunee Post.
"Excessive alcohol consumption on the part of the pedestrian, along with limited visibility due to the ongoing winter storm were contributing factors in this crash," according to a news release from the state police.
Hardwick was transported by ambulance to Marquette General Hospital where he was listed in serious condition this morning, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The driver of the 1999 Ford pickup truck - Robert Collins, 46, of Ishpeming - was not injured in the accident, said troopers. No tickets were issued.
Downstate, a 36-year-old female passenger died when a pickup truck crashed Sunday on an icy road in Kalamazoo County's Texas Township. A 39-year-old Adrian woman passenger died after a vehicle went off the road Sunday in Clare County's Hayes Township, about 90 miles north of Lansing.
According to the Michigan State Police website, snowfall is tapering off in the U.P. today except in Alger, Luce and Chippewa counties. Most roads are snow covered and slippery with reduced visibility due to blowing snow. Icy road conditions were reported this morning on U.S. 2 for Escanaba, Iron Mountain, Iron River and Ironwood, according to the state police website.
In the Upper Peninsula, Twin Lakes in Houghton County was the hardest hit area reporting the most recent snow with 17.5 inches falling Saturday through Monday morning, according to Justin Titus with the National Weather Service in Negaunee.
Munising recorded 11 inches and Grand Marais measured 10.5 of the white stuff through this morning, Titus added.
Despite the snowfall amounts, the region is behind in average snow totals for this time of year, Titus noted. In the Marquette area, snow fall amounts are more than 20 inches behind average measurements, he said.
Wind gusts of up to 66 mph were reported at the Granite Island Lighthouse near Big Bay in Lake Superior, noted Titus. On land, Grand Marais reported wind gusts of 57 mph. Copper Harbor had wind gusts up to 52 mph while Munising reported 51 mph gusts and Houghton reported 50 mph gusts.
Wind chills of 10 to 20 degrees below zero were forecast for this morning in the U.P. with the lowest readings expected across the interior western half of the region, according to the weather service website. No hazardous weather is forecast for the week.
In the central south U.P., today's forecast calls for a 20 percent chance of snow showers in the morning. Partly cloudy skies with highs around 19 degrees. West winds will be 5 to 10 mph becoming south 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight's forecast will be mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow showers. Lows will be around 13 degrees with south winds 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph overnight.
Temperatures will be warmer on Wednesday with partly cloudy skies. Highs around 30 degrees with west winds 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with lows around 18. West winds 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday will be mostly cloudy with highs around 29 and northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Mostly cloudy Thursday night with lows around 24. Friday and Friday night will be partly cloudy. Highs will be around 37 and lows around 25.
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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net