Schuylkill County was turned into a winter wonderland Saturday as the first snowfall of the winter season brought about 5 inches of the white stuff.
The first major snow storm since Oct. 29 that brought 5 to 10 inches, the Friday night and Saturday morning storm blanked the county in 4 to 6 inches, according to Craig Evanego, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in State College.
Evanego said the accumulation totals for the county as of 8 a.m. Saturday included 4.7 inches in Orwigsburg, 4 inches in Mahanoy City and 4.1 inches in Pine Grove.
"Most places had four to five inches of accumulation as of 8 a.m.," Evanego said. "A bit more may have fallen, but the 4-6 inch range is probably what will end up being found as the storm totals across Schuylkill County."
With the snowfall ending by late morning, many spent the day shoveling, while most children were out playing in the snow.
Tammy Spevak, West Market Street, Pottsville, said that the snow removal wasn't bad as her whole block chipped in with the work.
"At least it was light and not a heavy snow," Spevak said.
Keegan Hoffecker and Kenny Dixon, students at Minersville Area High School, were shoveling snow for required community service hours to graduate.
"I'm happy it snowed, but I don't really want it," Hoffecker said.
Joe Davis, who was shoveling with Hoffecker and Dixon, said the snow was better than freezing rain, which would be a mess.
While children could be seen all over the county, some even sledding and snowboarding, Richard Singer, Pottsville, could be seen playing outside his house in a fresh snow pile.
"I'm throwing snow balls at that pile," he said.
Singer was also playing with a Tonka dump truck, filling the truck bed with snow.
Although the storm didn't bring as much snow as in October, it still caused a number of accidents.
Two crashes occurred on I-81, the first at 6 a.m. at mile marker 114 in Foster Township.
State police at Frackville said one crash occurred as Trevon G. Simmons, 26, of Brooklyn, Md., was driving his 2010 International truck-tractor without a semi-trailer on I-81 south.
Simmons slid off of the snow-covered road into the center median, then the vehicle rolled onto its right side due to the down-sloping embankment.
He was transported to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street by Tremont Ambulance for moderate injuries.
Good Will Hose Company, Frackville, also responded to the crash.
The second crash occurred at 10:25 a.m. on I-81 south at mile marker 103 in Pine Grove Township.
State police at Jonestown said that the crash occurred as a 2008 Toyota Highlander, driven by Sherman D. Henry, 41, of Palmetto, Ga., claimed he hit a patch of black ice.
Henry lost control of the vehicle, which spun off the right side of the road and rolled onto its roof.
There were five passengers in the vehicle, Octivia E. Bagley, 34, of Tobyhanna, Deborah D. Henry, 61, of Bronx, N.Y., and a 10-year-old male, 12-year-old female and 11-year-old female, all three of Tobyhanna.
Bagley, Deborah Henry, the 10-year-old and 11-year-old were transported to Schuylkill Medical Center East Norwegian Street by Pine Grove EMS for minor injuries.
Mark Rosenberger, 43, of Minersville, also lost control of his 2011 Kia Sportage on a snow-covered road at 5:22 a.m. on Route 901 west in Norwegian Township.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said that Rosenberger lost control of his vehicle, travelled through the east and westbound lanes and struck a concrete post along the south berm.
After striking the post, the vehicle traveled southwest and came to final rest facing northwest.
Rosenberger was not injured.
Police were assisted on the scene by Marlin Citizen's Hose Company.
The vehicles and drivers in all the crashes were reported to be wearing seatbelts.