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From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) - Offsite (ferrell{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Mon Nov 29 2004 - 08:51:48 EST
http://www.thederrick.com/stories/11262004-5001.shtml
"Black ice forming after the first substantial snowfall of the season,
especially on bridges, caused a series of accidents Thursday that closed
two major roadways in Venango County.
Both Route 8 and Interstate 80 in Venango County were closed within an hour
Thanksgiving night after a responding ambulance was struck by a car on
Route 8, two vehicles burst into flames after a chain-reaction crash on the
Emlenton bridge on I-80, two people were ejected in a roll-over on the
interstate, and other accidents occurred.
Officials said PennDOT crews didn't salt the areas of the accidents until
after they occurred.
The eastbound lanes of I-80 were closed between shortly before 6 p.m. and 7
p.m. after two vehicles burst into flames in a three-vehicle,
chain-reaction crash on the Emlenton bridge.
Emlenton assistant fire chief Barry Louise said there seems to be crashes
on the bridge around this time of year every year when the first snowfall
occurs and drivers haven't yet adjusted to winter conditions.
"Each year, when we get the sudden snow squalls, and icing on the bridges,
that's when we have our problems," Louise said. "The bridges get colder
before the ground.
"People can't see the black ice until it's too late. They're on dry road
one minute and then it's ice."
"PennDOT was just overwhelmed with stuff. They all hit at one time. We were
scattered pretty thin," Jacobs said of his department. "We had a mess for a
while.
Knox firefighters also responded to three accidents on Interstate 80 in
Clarion County.
An eastbound Jeep rolled over at the 50 mile-marker and two people were
transported for medical treatment, Knox fire chief Doug McMillen said.
Another accident occurred at the 49 mile-marker when one vehicle "took down
quite a few guardrails and another one hit the edge of the bridge,"
McMillen said.
Another accident occurred at the bridge at the 50 mile-marker, also
resulting in no reported injuries.
"The bridge is iced over," McMillen said. "They were both the result of the
two bridges freezing. All three (accidents occurred) in about an hour,
around 8 p.m."
Chris Beatty, a meteorologist for accuweather.com., based in State College,
said Thursday was the first substantial snowfall of the season.
"Some places have been reporting light snow, while others are just having
flurries," Beatty said Thursday night. "Most places have only gotten a
trace or a coating on the ground, just an inch or two."
Beatty said the high in Franklin was 55 at midnight Wednesday.
The temperature gradually dropped all day to 28 at 7:35 p.m., he said."
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Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist / Webmaster / Founder - WeatherMatrix
9000 Weather Enthusiasts Can't Be Wrong! www.weathermatrix.net
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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