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2/13/2008 3:33 AM

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By Kathie O. Warco

Staff writer

kwarco@observer-reporter.com

Mother Nature dished out a mixed bag of weather Tuesday, from snow to freezing rain and then rain, canceling school and causing traffic problems.

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For the second time in less than a week, westbound Interstate 70 near the Bentleyville exit was closed late Tuesday morning after four tractor-trailers crashed.

The snow started about 8 p.m. Monday and just kept coming before turning to freezing rain after noon Tuesday and then turning to rain, said Jeff Breen, state Department of Transportation maintenance manager for Washington County.

"The weather service told us it would stop about 9 a.m. Tuesday, but it continued until eventually becoming rain about 2 p.m.," Breen said. "And we had a good hour of freezing rain."

All school districts in Washington and Greene counties canceled classes Tuesday, and WPIAL basketball playoff games also were canceled. California University of Pennsylvania also closed after postponing the start of classes.

Three inches of snow was measured in Canonsburg, according to the National Weather Service.

Breen said Tuesday's scenario was better than starting with freezing rain.

"We already had chemicals on the road from the snow, so we didn't get immediate freezing on the road surface," Breen said.

There was a chance for some more accumulation into today.

"We'll have a full complement out until midnight," Breen said Tuesday afternoon. "Then we'll play it by ear as to whether we'll have a full crew or a skeleton crew with everyone coming back out at 4 a.m."

Washington police Capt. Robert Wilson said roads in the city were terrible Tuesday morning.

"Since Monday night, it seems like the snow kept coming down," Wilson said. "I was out about 9 a.m., and there were actually very few vehicles out. Hopefully people were using some common sense and staying home."

In Canonsburg, Charles Kuhns, 29, of 77 Mesta Drive, Canton Township, escaped injury when the tow truck he was driving went off a curve early Tuesday and hit the porch of the Lou Bruno residence at 231 Barr St.

Derrick Kelly, 32, of Burgettstown, escaped injury when his car spun into a guardrail on Interstate 79 south in Amwell Township.

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