Eight inches of snow blankets area

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

More than eight inches of snow fell on the New Prague area Thursday, Feb. 26, causing schools to close early, traffic to slow and a number of vehicles to get stuck in the snow.

Snow started to fall heavily before noon, cutting down on visibility and making driving difficult.

The snowstorm resulted in New Prague Area School District closing schools early. High school students were released at 1 p.m. and elementary students went home at 2:30 p.m. The boys hockey playoff game against LaCrescent scheduled for that night was postponed to Friday.

The New Prague Police Department responded to a report of a school bus stuck in the snow at the intersection of 10th Ave. SE and 12th St. SE. The bus was pulled out with the assistance of several passers-by. Other motorists also became stuck in the wet sticky snow, needing help from friends and neighbors to get freed.

Due to the storm, commuters found their travel time between the Twin Cities and New Prague nearly doubled.

The snow was also believed to be a factor in a one-vehicle crash that happened around noon on Le Sueur County Road 29 near New Prague.

According to a report with the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office, Jenna Elise Smith, 20, of New Prague was eastbound when her vehicle apparently spun out of control and slid off the road into the north ditch striking a utility pole. She was transported by New Prague Ambulance Service to Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague where she was treated and released.

The New Prague Police Department was also on site of the crash.