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Ice-covered roadways cause accidents throughout region

PITTSBURGH — Freezing rain left a coating of ice on roadways in and around Pittsburgh Saturday, creating dangerous driving conditions and causing many accidents.

In Allegheny County, accidents were reported on roadways including Ohio River Boulevard, Route 51, Interstate 79 and Route 28.

Several multiple-vehicle accidents were reported, including one on the Elizabeth Bridge that involved as many as 13 vehicles.

A Port Authority bus was rear-ended on the Mansfield Bridge. At least three other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Accidents also occurred on the Glenwood, Liberty, Monongahela and Westinghouse bridges.

In McKeesport, a fire truck overturned near the McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge.

According to the Department of Public Works, crews determined that pre-treating surfaces would have had no effect, as the rain would have washed away road treatments before icing occurred. However, bridges were salted.

Beaver County emergency dispatchers said shortly before 11 a.m. that they received reports of vehicles sliding off roadways in the county. Due to the icy road conditions, the Beaver County Transit Authority suspended service.

Part of Interstate 376 was shut down after an accident near the Route 151 interchange in Hopewell Township.

A freezing rain advisory was lifted at 2 p.m. for Mercer, Venango, Forest, Clarion and Jefferson counties. A freezing rain advisory for Allegheny, Butler, Beaver, Washington and Lawrence counties expired at noon.

WPXI

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