Rain, wind and ice wreak havoc on area roadways

Soaking rains cause flooding, road closures, icy conditions — and potholes.

By: Gwen Runkle
   As if last week’s snowstorm was not enough, Mother Nature returned with a vengeance over the weekend, this time with soaking rains that caused flooding, road closures and icy conditions late Sunday into Monday morning.
   According to the National Weather Service, between 1 and 3 inches of rain fell across central New Jersey over the weekend. Winds gusting at around 25 mph were reported and temperatures remained mostly in the lower to mid-40s, but dropped below freezing Sunday night, causing problems for motorists across the area.
   In every municipality, road crews were out in force trying to clear melting snow from storm drains and salting and sanding roadways, but even with the extra effort some accidents were unavoidable.
   In West Windsor, a two-vehicle crash Sunday on Old Trenton Road took the lives of a 42-year-old Cranbury resident and her 11-year-old son.
   The accident happened about 7 p.m. near the intersection of Dorchester Drive. According to police, Alexander Kishyk, 43, of Cranbury, lost control of his Honda Passport while driving north on Old Trenton Road and slid into the oncoming lane of traffic, where his vehicle was hit by Alison Blette, 21, of West Windsor, who was driving a Mercury Mountaineer.
   Mr. Kishyk’s wife, Therese, 42, a passenger in the vehicle, which was also occupied by the couple’s three sons, was pronounced dead at the scene, said Thomas Tarr, West Windsor traffic officer. The couple’s 11-year-old son was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, but succumbed to his injuries there, Officer Tarr said.
   Mr. Kishyk, his other two sons, ages 10 and 7, and Ms. Blette were all taken to the Capital Health System Fuld Campus. Ms. Blette was treated and released, police said.
   Mr. Kishyk was listed in critical condition Monday and his two sons were airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia Sunday night, police said.
   "The icy conditions most likely played a key role in the accident," Officer Tarr said. "But the accident is still under investigation."
   Minor accidents on southbound Route 1, North Post Road and Old Trenton Road near Mercer County Community College were also reported, he said.
   The weather kept police in Montgomery busy as well.
   Two vehicles flipped on their sides Sunday after hitting icy patches, one on Route 518 east of Province Line Road and one on Route 206 near Platz Drive, said Sgt. Joe Wanicak.
   "Luckily, no one was injured," he said. "We also had someone run into a snowbank on Route 206 near Platz Drive after hitting the gas while exiting a puddle. The vehicle sustained heavy front damage, but again no one was injured."
   Several areas of the township were flooded, including Route 601 at Route 206, the entrance of Mill Pond bridge, Berkley Avenue and various spots along Route 206.
   But perhaps the biggest problem has been potholes, Sgt. Wanicak said.
   One officer had to guard a pothole on Route 206 near Covert Drive for five hours until it could be repaired, he said. Other potholes, like one on Route 206 in Harlingen village, one on Route 601 near the new high school and one on Skillman Road near Titus Road, caused a number of flat tires and vehicle damage.
   Large potholes on some Princeton Borough streets made a daily commute to work or visit to the downtown more challenging as well.
   The borough’s public works department is already filling in potholes with a temporary asphalt mix until the holes can be properly patched in the spring, said Wayne Carr, director of the public works department.
   The borough contacted the state Department of Transportation to fix very large potholes on Route 206 — one in front of Borough Hall and another at the intersection of Elm Road — and one on Nassau Street near CVS, Mr. Carr said.
   Should the borough get hit with another snowstorm, the application of the temporary asphalt patches would be disrupted by the snowplows, Mr. Carr said.
   "It’s a waste of materials but I guess we would have to go back and fill them up again," he said.
   Work is also being done in West Windsor to repair some very large potholes on Village Road West, which remained closed Monday.
   In Princeton Township and Plainsboro Township, flooding was the major issue.
   Quaker Road, between Port Mercer and Mercer Road, was closed for a period, Princeton Township police said. All other roads in the township were sanded and salted.
   In Plainsboro, four roads in the southern portion of the township were closed Sunday night into Monday morning.
   George Davison, Grovers Mill, John White and Nostrand roads were all closed due to flooding and/or icy conditions.
   "The creek underneath George Davison Road, as you approach Plainsboro Road, flooded," said Plainsboro Police Chief David Lyon. "There was just nowhere for the rain really to go. Mapleton Road and Plainsboro Road near FMC on Route 1 were also problem areas.
   "Water pooled in a shallow area of Plainsboro Road near Cranbury Neck Road as well," he continued. "Really, any low-lying portions of the town were in trouble. The water just backed up and when temperatures dropped got icy."
   Due to the difficult conditions, many schools in the area had delayed openings.
   All schools in the Princeton Regional and West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional school districts were delayed by 90 minutes, along with the Princeton Charter School. The Montgomery School District opened on time with no delay.