Storm strands 9 on board Philly transit bus

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nine passengers spent the night on board a bus in Philadelphia as a massive winter storm dumped more than a foot of snow on the region.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority spokeswoman Heather Redfern says the passengers opted to stay on the bus after it skidded on ice and became stuck Wednesday night. They had all disembarked by 7:30 a.m. today.

Redfern says the Route 22 bus stayed on through the night to keep the passengers comfortable.

About 150 of the transit agency’s buses became stuck overnight and passengers were given the choice to brave the elements or stay on board. About 60 buses remained stuck this morning.

Up to 17 inches of snow fell in the Philadelphia area. Thousands of utility customers are without power and the snow prompted hundreds of schools from central Pennsylvania to Philadelphia to close.