Governor, turnpike chairman apologize for stranded motorists
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Chairman Sean Logan has apologized that hundreds of motorists were stranded during the weekend’s massive snow storm.Gov. Tom Wolf planned to speak about the storm Monday at PennDOT headquarters.
More than 500 vehicles were stranded in groups on a 16-mile stretch of the turnpike in Somerset and Bedford counties, about 80 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.
That happened when two tractor-trailers became disabled as they tried to climb the grade to the Allegheny tunnels and got stuck in the westbound lanes Friday night.
The eastbound turnpike was closed from New Stanton to Breezewood on Sunday to give emergency road crews access to the jammed westbound lanes, so they could be cleared of snow and vehicles.
More than 200 people stayed in shelters and another 200 in hotels after their vehicles were freed.
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