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Police Abandon Squad Cars In Naperville

UPDATED 02/02/11 9:30 a.m.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (CBS) -- In west suburban Naperville as the Blizzard of 2011 raged on, the snow drifts amounted to 6 feet, and police had to abandon their squad cars as they became snowed in.

As CBS 2's Dave Savini reports, the snow was beginning to taper off slightly in Naperville in the early morning hours Wednesday, but conditions were actually worsening as the snowflakes grew bigger and wetter.

As of midnight Tuesday night, police had to abandon their squad cars, after finding themselves unable to drive them through the snow.

They instead got into Department of Public Works pickup trucks, which they used not only to respond to emergency calls, but also to pick up the next shift of officers, having been on duty for a double shift.

Many people walked to hotels, where even funerals were being canceled.

"They are just trying to spend as much time as they can in our hotel, and we're doing what we can to make sure everybody's comfortable staying with us," said Courtyard Marriott manager Gytis Mikulionis.

Also in Naperville, a car carrier with 10 vehicles mounted on it was seen at Route 59 and Jefferson Avenue, and overhead, a traffic light was turned askew by heavy winds.

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