APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The snow and dangerous cold has taken a toll on vehicles.
Peter Hopfensperger has been towing and assisting vehicles non-stop since Winter Storm Beth.
“I got some frostbite on my knees but it’s all part of the job, I guess,” said Hopfensperger.
Hopfensperger works for Reckers Towing company in Appleton.
He tells FOX 11 in the last 3 days he assisted about 90 vehicles. That’s 40% higher than usual.
“Anything from locking keys in their car, leaving them running on that, jump starts, tows.”
The Wisconsin DOT reports that the State Patrol responded to more than 2,200 calls from Tuesday to Thursday alone.
Trooper Scott Reignier said it’s a significant increase of calls.
“A lot of them have been vehicle run off where people slid off into the ditch and then there’s been motorists, their vehicles can’t take the cold and are broken down on the side of the road.”
Reignier told FOX 11 that an increase of state patrol cars is out looking for crashes, runoffs and stranded motorists.
The Wisconsin DOT doesn’t have the number of crashes this week, but as of January 27th, there have already been 30 deadly crashes.
The same time last year, preliminary numbers show 40 deadly crashes.
With the extreme cold temperatures, Reigner says crashes aren’t the only thing on their minds.
“If somebody’s stuck outside in their car, if their car doesn’t run, it doesn’t take very long for people to suffer from the winter, the harsh winter weather right now.”
Reignier added that for the most part, road conditions are okay, it’s the driving that really matters.
“If you go slow there’s pretty much nowhere you can’t get to.”
He also reminds people that making gradual lane changes and turns can prevent spinning out or losing control.
