A Rhode Island driver was blasted for navigating a mountain of snow on top of an SUV after a historic storm
A reckless Rhode Island driver angered his community by driving his SUV covered in snow the day after a historic winter storm wreaked havoc on the Northeast.
Viral images obtained by WPRI show a snow-covered car with a mountain of snow piled on its roof hurtling down a snow-covered road Tuesday, with the driver relying on a small open window to see just hours after the traffic closure ended.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee implemented a travel ban on all commercial vehicles as Winter Storm Hernando dumped 30 inches of snow in some parts of the state on Sunday.
McKee lifted the travel restrictions two days later, but urged residents to “use extra caution on local roads if travel is necessary.”
Although the driver seemed to have enough vision, the outlet warned other drivers about the danger of hitting the road in a car that was not properly removed after the storm.
“The travel ban is over, but DO NOT drive if your car looks like this. It is important that you clean your car completely before hitting the road,” the station wrote in a Facebook post and video.
The article, which has been shared by an estimated five million people, has sparked outrage from locals who criticized the driver for endangering the safety of others – and pointed out that they were not on the roads with vehicles in the same condition.
“I’m praying they were just pulling it out of the way and got stuck in front of the plow and had to spin the block, but it still wasn’t fair,” commented another.
“Obviously common sense doesn’t fall like snow,” commented another.
“I bet they are banking on it to fail so they don’t,” speculated one user.
“Actually, I have personally seen that nonsense,” said one angry citizen.
“Tickets should be given to anyone who drives this way.
The dangerous driving appears to violate Rhode Island General Law § 31-23-16, which requires drivers to completely remove snow and ice — not just shovel a hole — before driving.
The Ocean State was hit by a historic hurricane, burying communities under 30 to 37 inches of snow, with 35.5 inches falling on Monday alone, according to the Weather Channel.
An incredible 37.9 inches recorded at TF Green International Airport in Warwick broke a 121-year-old snowfall record, surpassing the 1978 Blizzard of 28.6 inches.
Roads also remained a nightmare during the storm, as state troopers responded to nearly 300 highway closures Monday during a nationwide travel ban.
Rhode Island State Police Chief Maj. Erik Yanyar told WPRI that troopers pulled over 269 disabled vehicles, responded to 25 accidents and issued 40 citations for traffic violations.
