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Weekend winter weather to blame for accidents

PITTSBURGH — Several accidents were blamed on wintry weather across the Pittsburgh area on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, but road crews are doing their best to keep roads clear.

Officials said a car in Mercer County hit a rock and ended up in the pond in Shenango Township. A witness said he saw the car spin out before it went off the road.

Meanwhile, state police had to help at least one driver on Interstate 2-79 North Saturday night.

Corey Bradley was just one of a few drivers involved in a fender bender in Butler County due to the weather conditions.

“We was riding smooth. All of a sudden, I lost control and hit the guardrail,” said Bradley.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and Pittsburgh public works crews worked throughout Saturday night to salt roads.

Crews said that although the Pittsburgh area only saw about an inch of snow with areas north of Pittsburgh receiving the most snowfall, the temperatures and road conditions made the snow feel slick.

“It's only an inch of snow, but it's the temperatures and road conditions that snow feels quite slick. It's actually worse than a few inches of snow," said Pittsburgh Public Works Director Rob Kaczorowski.

Dating back to last Friday, crews said it has been an interesting week for them, staring with snowy, slushy roads, then a wintry, icy mix days later followed by potholes, and now, back to snow.

"It's a challenge. These guys are stepping up to the challenge," said Kaczorowski.

Kaczorowski said their equipment is holding up despite a few minor breakdowns.