Storm cuts power, causes crashes

Centre Daily Times

February 22, 2008

A storm that brought up to 3 inches of snow and sleet to the county also resulted in some slick roads, leading to a crash that knocked out power Friday evening to 150 residences of western Ferguson Township.

No one was injured when a driver lost control of a vehicle on an icy state Route 45, between Tadpole Road and Deibler Road, west of Pine Grove Mills.

The vehicle struck a utility pole, bringing the pole and wires down across the roadway and knocking out power to about 150 households.

Ferguson Township police closed the section of road and, in an advisory issued about 6 p.m., said the road was expected to remain closed for about seven hours -- the length of time Allegheny Power was estimating it would take to restore electricity to the affected homes, police said.

Residents needing emergency shelter were urged to call the county emergency communications center.

But as of 9 p.m., no one had sought emergency shelter, according to county communications.

Allegheny Power had service restored to more than half of the affected customers by 9 p.m., according to company spokesman Allen Staggers.

Friday's storm prompted all schools in Centre County to close and canceled a slew of activities, but otherwise had caused only a few minor crashes by evening:

On Route 45 in Aaronsburg, Heather Donald, 22, of Mifflinburg lost control of her vehicle and hit a parked vehicle. She wasn't injured, according to state police at Rockview.

In Walker Township, Shane Strouse, 20, of Mill Hall, crashed off state Route 64, spinning his car before leaving the road, rolling onto the roof and coming to a rest in field.

While on Interstate 80 in Cooper Township, Clearfield County, Jamie Hubler, 25, of Philipsburg, slid off the highway and struck an embankment.

No information on the drivers' conditions was available.

A Philadelphia woman escaped injury Friday afternoon when she rolled her Oldsmobile twice after losing control on I-80 in Rush Township near mile marker 139.

Kimyada M. Fisher-Nelson, 33, was wearing her seat belt during the crash shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.

State police said she lost control of the car, left the roadway and struck an embankment, causing the vehicle to roll over twice.

Roads may stay slick today, with the National Weather Service calling for a 30 percent chance of snow showers and another half-inch of accumulation.

Skies should turn partly cloudy by tonight and clear on Sunday.

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