12-inch Snowfall Staggers Area

I A relentless storm which had pum; meled the Ann Arbor area with 12 inches I of snow by 9 a.m. today snarled traffic, I forced mail and bus service cutbacks, I closed schools and kept many workers I away f rom jobs. I The 12-inch reading was made at the t U-M Engineering Building as snow conI tinued to come down, after starting early B Wednesday. ■ Area conditions were duplicated ■ throughout southern Lower Michigan. I Weathermen did not expect the storm to I abate until another four inches of snow L had fallen today in the southeastern part I of the state. A record was in sight. I The storm unmercifully snarled what I traffic there was on Washtenaw County I roads and freeways this morning. ■ Ann Arbor Pólice reported 20 traffic i I accidents in the city during the 24-hour I period which began at 6:30 a.m. Wednest-'m day. Only two of those mishaps involved ■ injuries, however. W The Sheriff's Department reported 25 accidents from about 4 p.m. yesterday l Wuntil 7 a.m. today. Sgt.-Ron Ritter said Imost of these were "fender-benders, m ■ nothing too serious." i M In Ypsilanti, city pólice reported 15 ac Bcidents since Wednesday morning, but h : ■ - TiBmriiMBWMfriHBiBttÉMBMiililBIMBMBH '-' ) f f ' V ' none of them involved personal injury. Michigan State Pólice at the Ypsilanti post policed only three accidents over- night. "All the cars that are on the roads are moving too slowly to do much damage if they have an accident," surmised one trooper. Pólice agencies throughout the county, swamped with calis from inquiring motorists this morning, advised persons not to drive their cars today if at all possible. Traffic between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti was moving at a snail's pace at 8 a.m. today. Washtenaw Avenue was snow-covered and slippery, US-23 was reduced to one lane in either directión, and side streets generally were hazardous if not impassable. Mired vehicles were abandoned at many spots along area streets and roads. Continuing snowfall complicated street-plowing operations this morning and reduced visibility for motorists who attempted to drive to their jobs despite the weather conditions. At least one death overnight was attributèd to the elements. State Pólice said Delmar C. Wilson, 63, of 1824 Pasadena St. in Ypsilanti Township, died of a heart attack last evening while shovelling snow at his home. His wife found H him lying on the ground next to his yard tractor with a snow remover on it. Two Ann Arbor pólice officers, Craig Mason and Philip Levine, were forced to drive down one-way S. Fifth Avenue the wrong way shortly after 5 p.m. yesterday ■ to rush an expectant mother to ■ ty Hospital for delivery of her child. The officers escorted the woman to the hospital with dome lights. flashing and the baby was bom approximately I half hour after they arrived. I Postmaster Richard Schneeberger said mail deliveries in the Ann Arbor area would be "conditional" today. The condition is whether streets and roads are I plowed. "Weather conditions are such that the I welfare of our employés would be I ardized if we required them to deliver in all areas. Although we probably will not be able to get off main thoroughfares, j our goal is to try and make all business p I deliveries. "And maybe not too popular is al suggestion that all those students who I are home from school shovel walks, I driveways and porches to facilítate I liveries tomorrow. Our, optimistic goaljl