Late-morning snowstorm leads to widespread problems on Berks roads

Emergency crews over much of Berks County were busy responding to jackknifed tractor-trailers and other crashes as well as vehicles stuck on slippery slopes as a result of a snowstorm that began late Wednesday morning.

Pricetown Road was closed between the Warren Street Bypass (Route 12) and Route 73 due to multiple stranded vehicles. Route 183 was closed at Lakeshore Road in Upper Tulpehocken Township where an 18-wheeler slid into a utility pole.

Both were reopened in the late afternoon, according to emergency services.

A tractor-trailer also was reported to have jackknifed at Old Church and North Heidelberg roads in North Heidelberg Township.

The trouble began just before noon when fire police were called to State Hill and Van Reed roads in Spring Township after a tractor-trailer jackknifed, one of several accidents in rapid succession as a result of snowy conditions in Berks County.

Emergency responders also reported shortly after noon that multiple vehicles were stuck on a hill on Van Reed between Papermill and State Hill roads. They called for road crews to spread salt and anti-skid material.

Just before the rig jackknifed, Berks 911 dispatchers sent crews to the scene of a vehicle over an embankment on Route 419 just south of Route 183 in Bethel Township. A short time later, fire police were called to Route 183 and New Schaefferstown Road in Penn Township where there were reports of multiple vehicles stranded on a slippery hill.

There was also a report of a vehicle that slid into a building at Penn and Second avenues in West Reading, and a vehicle into a tree at Crystal Cave and Saucony Creek roads in Richmond Township.

The slippery conditions continued into the early afternoon, subsiding around midday as the temperature rose and snowfall turned to rain.

Several accidents were reported in the late afternoon as well, including a vehicle that overturned on McKnights Gap Road in Alsace Township around 3 p.m.

Route 662 in Ruscombmanor Township was also closed around 4 p.m. at the borough line and Houck Road.

Rain showers are predicted to give way to cloudy skies by the late night, according to Accuweather.

Temperatures are expected to rise into the mid 40s by Thursday afternoon, with clouds and wind up to 20 mph throughout the day.