Arlington driver removed from duty for plowing in wrong direction

WASHINGTON – Arlington County says it has removed a snow plow driver from duty after a motorist reported seeing the driver travel the wrong direction on Military Road Monday morning.

The motorist took video, shared with WTOP, showing the plow traveling the wrong direction on a two-lane road as a car approaches from the opposite direction

The driver who took the video says he had turned around and followed the plow after it nearly struck his own car.

Arlington County’s chief operating engineer for the Water, Sewer Streets Bureau says the plow driver’s behavior was “completely unacceptable” and violates the county’s training practices.

“As soon as the county learned of the unacceptable behavior, we identified the driver and removed him from duty. We will be taking appropriate action with this employee. Safety is a priority for the county, and we encourage any driver issues or concerns to be reported to the police,” Dave Hundelt says in a statement to WTOP.

Heavy snowfall left roads covered early Monday morning. Area schools and federal offices were closed leaving traffic light on area roads.

Crews spent the morning clear snow and slush from the roads as the snow tapered off.

Jason Berry, who shot the video, says he was traveling home about 7:30 a.m. Monday when he came over the top of a hill and had to veer out of his lane to avoid colliding with the plow truck. He temporarily lost control of his Volkswagen, Berry tells WTOP.

Berry says he turned around and began following the plow and saw the plow force another car out of its lane.

“He could have easily killed somebody. There’s no excuse for that,” Berry says.

Watch Berry’s video below:

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