Pa. icy weather cuts power to more than 442,000

Pa. icy weather cuts power to more than 442,000

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The icy conditions have knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of electric customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and prompted school and legislative delays as well as speed reductions on major roadways.

PECO reports more than 442,000 customers without power early today in the five-county Philadelphia region, most of them in suburban counties. More than 161,000 customers were without power in Chester County, more than 118,000 in Montgomery County and more than 102,000 in Bucks County,

Amid the transportation havoc, the Pennsylvania Turnpike says a fatal accident closed traffic on one section of the turnpike. A turnpike official said one driver was killed in the 11 p.m. Tuesday crash involving three tractor-trailers that closed both eastbound and westbound lanes of the turnpike between the Gettysburg Pike and Harrisburg West.

The turnpike earlier ordered speed limits reduced to 45 mph and banned empty tractor-trailers. State highway officials also dropped speed limits to 45 mph on many roads including a number of interstates.