Around 4pm Tuesday, high winds and blowing snow caused more chaos on Highway 395. Reports said that a school bus spun out into the median at Benton Crossing Road. It’s unclear if it were that wreck or another one that caused traffic to back up. Traffic gridlock resulted and 395 was closed from 203 to Gorge Road.

There were no children on the school bus that wrecked. The driver was inside but remained unhurt. When possible, the CHP and others began to escort motorists out of the problem area.

Mammoth Hospital tried to transport a patient to Bishop Airport for a flight out to another hospital, but could not immediately get through the highway congestion. Reports said the transport did go through later in the evening.

Around 6pm, authorities closed Highway 395 from 203 north due to avalanches in the Conway Summit area.

Mammoth Police urged people trying to leave town to turn around and spend the night since it was unclear when the highway might re-open. The Welcome Center in Mammoth Lakes had invited people to come in there to get out of the elements.

The National Weather Service had predicted ongoing rough weather through 8pm.

 

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