Lyndhurst's Finest Assist Stranded Motorists During Severe Winter Weather
On Monday, January 26, Northeast Ohio faced a significant winter storm and Arctic blast that impacted the roads and highways in Cuyahoga County. The Lyndhurst Police Department’s Patrol Division played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of local roads and providing assistance to motorists in need. Amid the treacherous driving conditions caused by snow and ice, patrol officers promptly responded to calls for help from drivers facing delays, being stranded, or struggling to navigate through the challenging weather. The Patrol Division of the Lyndhurst Police Department was notably busy, attending to a multitude of weather-related service calls affecting the community of drivers. During one remarkable incident, LPD Dispatcher Zipay received an urgent call from an UBER driver whose BMW had become stuck in a snow bank with passengers on board. Acting swiftly, Sgt. Cameron, accompanied by Patrol Officers Newcomer and Hildreth, rushed to the scene. They coordinated a tow from Ken's Auto and then went the extra mile by providing the stranded UBER passengers with a courtesy ride to their destination in Gates Mills. Later that morning, Dispatcher Allen received a distress call about a Honda CRV that had spun out on the northbound express lanes of Interstate 271, becoming trapped in the snow drifts between the express and local lanes. LPD Officer Romanin quickly responded to the situation. While he was on site, another vehicle spun out behind him, getting stuck in a different snow embankment dangerously close to his location. Officer Romanin, supported by Officer Barnett & K-9 Sonic, created a secure zone for the vehicles, patiently waiting for approximately 30 minutes until Mooney & Son's Towing arrived. They successfully extricated both vehicles from their snow drifts, enabling them to continue their journeys. Subsequently, Officer Crown was called to the parking lot of the South Euclid–Lyndhurst Board of Education, where a vehicle had been snowed in due to heavy snowfall and frigid temperatures. The driver had parked there while assisting her recently operated-on sister by clearing snow from her driveway. In her absence, plows had surrounded the vehicle with snow, rendering it immobile. Officer Crown took charge, using a shovel to clear a safe pathway for the driver to exit. His actions not only facilitated the safe departure of the driver but also allowed her to promptly return to care for her sister during the severe winter conditions prevailing in Northeast Ohio.
In addition to direct assistance at the roadside, officers coordinated with dispatch and other responders to prioritize calls, reduce secondary accidents, and keep traffic flowing as safely as possible. Their efforts helped limit disruptions caused by the storm and supported community members trying to get home, reach work, or attend to urgent needs despite the weather.
The Lyndhurst Police Department’s Patrol Division is highlighted in this spotlight for its steady response to “Old Man Winter” and its impact on the motoring public during Winter Storm Fern. Community members are encouraged to recognize and salute the Lyndhurst Police Department’s Patrol Division for its continued service and support during challenging weather conditions.
