Wintry blast hits Mon Valley

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

Old Man Winter made his presence known in the Mon Valley on Wednesday.
Area residents and businesses began to brace for the first winter storm of the season on Tuesday after the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh announced a snowstorm was bearing down on the area.
Most counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including the Mon Valley counties of Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland, were under a winter storm warning for Wednesday afternoon into this morning, according to NWS Pittsburgh.
Meteorologists predicted several parts of the region could see accumulations up to 12 inches of snow.
In the Mon Valley, the number was smaller, with projections between 6 and 9 inches of accumulation.
While the snow is expected to stop falling between 4 and 7 a.m. today, the consistent stream of precipitation Wednesday left road conditions treacherous for Mon Valley drivers.
As area residents woke up or walked out the door for their morning commutes, there was a mere dusting of snow on the ground and light snowflakes falling.
By 11 a.m. Wednesday, communities from White Oak to California, Pa. began to see the snow stick to roads, cars and sidewalks. The snow continued to fall through the afternoon and into the evening.
Mon Valley first responders, public works departments and utility crews were busy responding to incidents and accidents related to winter weather conditions on the roads.
In Allegheny County, McKeesport police and the city public works department were called to Tulip Drive at 11:27 a.m. after a car slid into a school bus, which was not carrying any students, according to Allegheny County 911. No injuries were reported. Residents reported the road was snow covered and slippery. Residents in Dravosburg took to social media to report slippery conditions on Richland Drive, as did Port Vue residents who reported shortly before 2 p.m. that Romine Avenue was covered in snow and that vehicles were getting stuck when trying to climb the hill.
In Lincoln Borough, resident Cindy Moran took a photo of a snow-covered Liberty Way and urged neighbors to use caution as tractor-trailer trucks were using the road in slippery conditions. She said around 2:30 p.m. that police and a public works crew were on scene to control traffic and clear the road.
“Plow is trying to pave the way,” she said.
One resident in Glassport, William Lesofsky took to the All About Port Vue/Liberty/Glassport/Lincoln community Facebook page to commend his town’s road department.
“I would just like to give a shout out of thanks to the Glassport Road Department!! Already today they have been on my street twice clearing it and salting. This is not just a one time thing, I have been here for 30 years and they have always taken care of the road,” he said.
In Westmoreland County, Rostraver Central Volunteer Fire Department responded to a one vehicle crash at the bottom of Kennedy Avenue near its intersection with Webster Hollow Road. A blue Chevy SUV rolled on its side on a snow covered bend. No injuries were reported, according to the fire department.
In Washington County, drivers reported dangerous driving conditions throughout the county, but many residents were understanding on social media.
In Finleyville and Union Township, a tractor trailer got stuck, blocking the road to traffic and garbage haulers.
The Stockdale Volunteer Fire Department responded to a call around 5:30 p.m. near the Watering Hole Saloon where a minor vehicle accident was reported.
“Please use caution during this snow storm and only travel if you absolutely need to,” the fire department said. “The roads are getting very icy.”
Around 6:30 p.m., a vehicle crashed into a home in Fallowfield and fled the scene. Police were still searching for a suspect as of presstime.

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