Winter weather made for some hazardous driving conditions in Clearfield County Friday, as evidenced by a string of accidents on Interstate 80.
State police at Clearfield investigated one that happened at 8:30 a.m. near mile marker 112 eastbound in Pine Township.
Michael Shutz of St. Marys lost control of his tractor-trailer on the snow-covered roadway. He left the road, and when he returned, his rig was struck by a van operated by Goran Skopljak of Parma Heights, Ohio. Both vehicles then left the roadway.
Shutz will be cited for failing to drive at a safe speed, according to police.
Both drivers were wearing seat belts, and no one was injured.
Fifteen minutes later, Jeanne Gross of Bradford applied the brakes on her van to slow down for inclimate weather. Andrew Jackson of Indianapolis, Ind., was following Gross but could not stop, sliding into the Gross vehicle.
The Gross vehicle traveled off the road, striking a tractor-trailer operated by Lancelot Ferber of Pine City, Minn.
Ferber’s rig became stuck with the trailer on the roadway.
All drivers and passengers in the incident were wearing their seat belts. Only Gross suffered injuries, as she complained of some pain at the accident scene. Damage ranged from minor to severe.
Virgil Flannery of Argyle, Wis., did not see the accident due to blowing snow. He attempted to stop but was unable to avoid hitting the Ferber vehicle. Flannery’s truck came to rest in the right lane.
At 9:25 a.m. Friday, Richard A. Gray, 58, of Montoursville, was traveling west on I-80 at mile marker 120 west in Lawrence Township when his sports-utility vehicle slid off the roadway. Gray was wearing his seat belt and was not injured. His SUV sustained minor damage.
An accident was also reported at 4:25 p.m. in Cooper Township at mile marker 134.
Marie Marion, 36, of Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., was traveling westbound when traffic slowed down in front of her. Her vehicle spun out of control and hit the guilde rails.
Marion and a passenger in her vehicle were wearing seat belts, and no injuries were reported. Their SUV sustained moderate damage.