Crime & Safety

UPDATED: State Police Ask Motorists to Stay Off Icy Butler County Roads

State Route 422 East in Summit Township has reopened in both directions after a vehicle crash between Heist and Carbon Center roads. Route 422 West also has reopened between Route 8 and Route 356.

Third Update: As of 3:30 p.m. Route 422 West open.

SECOND UPDATE: As of 1:30 p.m. Route 422 West is closed between Route 8 and Route 356 due to an overturned tractor-trailer.

UPDATE: As of 1 p.m., state Route 422 East in Summit Township is reopen in both directions between Heist and Carbon Center roads. The highway was closed earlier because of a multi-vehicle crash. 

Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Earlier story:

After a number of car accidents throughout Butler County, state police are asking motorists to stay off the roads.

Find out what's happening in Cranberrywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Roadways throughout Butler County are very treacherous due to ice/freezing rain,” Lt. Steve Ignatz said in a release.

The National Weather Service also has issued a special weather statement calling for icy road conditions in Allegheny, Butler and surrounding counties Wednesday morning.

In Butler County, KDKA reports there have been about 50 accidents caused by the icy conditions.

Police responded to Butler Township at about 10 a.m. after a truck filled with explosive slid off Route 44, KDKA reports. There also were reports of an accident in Lancaster township, according to the news station.

Cranberry Patch reader Tom Ayres also said he saw at least a dozen accidents on Interstate-79 South between Portersville and Harmony.

"Minimum 12 accidents, cars into each other, into median, into guide rails, etc.," he commented on the Cranberry Patch Facebook page. "Harmony south was slow but just wet."

Another Patch reader said she witnessed a five-car pile up while driving from Cranberry to Ellwood City.

"Kept my cool and was driving along and had a car from the other side come plowing into my lane...somehow I missed her," Kate Wassel commented. "Pretty scary."

According to the NWS, several counties are reporting ice on roads due to surface temperatures being below freezing, despite the fact that air temperatures are in the upper 30s and lower 40s.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette traffic reporter Jon Schmitz also said on Twitter that multiple crashes have been reported on Route 28 in Tarentum due to the icy roads.

Drivers should take caution.

Are the icy conditions affecting your commute? Have you witnessed any of the accidents? Leave your experiences in the comment section below.

Like Us on Facebook | Follow Us on Twitter

Check out some of today's other top stories here .


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.