Crews plan to quickly remove disabled cars from roads during storm

For the safety of the traveling public and to ensure that plow, salt and sand trucks can effectively work to clear roads, Gov. Pat McCrory said the state Department of Transportation will quickly remove disabled and abandoned vehicles from the roadways during the upcoming winter storm.

Posted 11:11 p.m. Jan 21, 2016 — Updated 11:52 p.m. Jan 21, 2016

RALEIGH, N.C. — For the safety of the traveling public and to ensure that plow, salt and sand trucks can effectively work to clear roads, Gov. Pat McCrory said the state Department of Transportation will quickly remove disabled and abandoned vehicles from the roadways during the upcoming winter storm.

"(Department of Transportation) crews will swiftly clear the road by pushing any vehicles that may impede traffic out of the roadway and into the shoulder, so we don't have these large backups and have people stranded," McCrory said.

He said the highway patrol and other law enforcement officials would be checking primary and secondary roads, looking in each car for stranded motorists.

"We don't want to leave anyone abandoned on our roads," McCrory said. "The last thing we want is a family in a car, and everyone assumes no one’s there."

The state also mobilized an estimated 90 members of the National Guard in trucks and Humvees, ready to rescue stranded drivers and transport medical and utility personnel.

"They will fill out 11 basic teams...Humvees and other trucks will be used in order to facilitate getting stranded motorists off the roads," National Guard Adjutant General Gregory Lusk said.

Drivers whose vehicles are abandoned within city limits are asked to call police. If the vehicle is off the road and is not considered a safety hazard, it will not be immediately towed. For drivers looking to locate abandoned vehicles outside city limits, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website has a search option that can be used.

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