"The Morning Call Inc., Copyright 2002"
Date: TUESDAY, January 26, 1988
HEAVY SNOWFALL CLOSES SCHOOLS, CAUSES CRASHES
Snow fell thick and fast yesterday, covering the roads with a treacherous blanket that was blamed in several accidents and giving area students a shortened school day.
''It will be a heavy snow producer for eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey,'' said William Dovico, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service at the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport.
As of 10 last night, 9 inches had accumulated at the airport, with up to 12 inches expected in various areas.
Meteorologist Charlie Giannetta said the storm was the result of cold front moving into the area, followed by a low- pressure system from the south.
Precipitation started falling in Bucks and Montgomery counties during the middle of morning rush hour.
''It started at 8:30 a.m. with rain and sleet and turned to snow at 9:36 a.m.,'' said Giannetta.
About two hours later, heavy snow started falling in the area. That continued throughout the day and was expected to end about 3 to 4 a.m. today.The snow was expected to taper off completely by mid-today.
Advance warning prepared the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which had crews out as soon as the bad weather made its way into the area. Jack Hartman, maintenance manager for Montgomery County, said some crews were sent out at 8 a.m. yesterday. A full complement of 53 plows, graders and cinder trucks was dispatched at noon.
Hartman expected to have all trucks on the road until about 11 p.m., when about 60 percent would be pulled off to give workers a rest.
In neighboring Bucks County, 76 pieces of equipment were out making the roadways safe for motorists.
''We plan on working all through the night or until this thing quits,'' said Edward Aikey, assistant maintenance manager.
Snow started falling at different times in the county, ranging from 11 a.m. in the northern end to 2 p.m. in the southern sections.
As of 7 p.m., Aikey reported only minor isolated problems throughout the county.
Soon after the snow started falling, school superintendents in Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown conferred about 11:30 a.m. and decided on early dismissals. Dr. John Slattery, Pennridge superintendent, reported that dismissing students early worked out ''perfectly'' because all buses were back by 4:15 p.m.
The only transportation problem the district had was when a van slid into a ditch in Hilltown Township. Slattery said one student was in the van, but neither the pupil nor the driver was injured.
Quakertown's Dr. John Holbert and Palisades' Thomas Free both said their districts had no problems in getting students home.
No decision had been made as of last night on whether schools would be open today.
Numerous accidents occurred throughout the area as commuters tried to get home. State police at Dublin reported ''a lot of minor accidents'' during the rush hour.
Traffic at Route 313 and Route 563 in East Rockhill Township bottlenecked due to icy road conditions. The situation eased when PennDOT crews came out and cindered.
A two-vehicle accident at Tollgate Road and Route 309 injured both drivers, said state police. Samuel Fronheiser, 75, of Quakertown, was southbound in the right lane of Route 309 at 10:07 a.m. when he attempted to turn left onto Tollgate. At the intersection he was struck by a car driven by Lorraine Grave, 22, of Schnecksville, who was northbound.
Fronheiser suffered a broken collarbone, bruises and cuts, while Grave was treated for a broken foot and bruises. Both were released.
A spokeswoman for Grand View Hospital reported that the emergency room was kept fairly busy with routine minor injuries. Joan Shope, nursing supervisor at Quakertown Community Hospital, described the evening as ''absolutely unbelievable.''
While most of the cases were for minor injuries, she there were a few admissions for a broken hip and kneecap.
|
"WEATHER BY GIANNETTA"