Dozens of accidents reported along region's icy roads

Icy conditions on the Blue Route led to the crash of a SEPTA bus yesterday morning that injured 10 passengers. They were taken to Bryn Mawr Hospital, where they were treated, authorities said.

The Route 123 bus rear-ended two cars that had crashed directly in front of it, according to authorities.

The accident was one of dozens throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey yesterday as icy roads sent cars spinning out of control.

Temperatures rose and conditions generally improved throughout the day. The National Weather Service said about an inch of rain fell in the Philadelphia region starting about 9 a.m.

Conditions generally were worse north and west of the city.

In New Jersey, police temporarily closed portions of Interstates 78, 80, and 287 because of treacherous driving conditions. Major roads in Allegheny County in Western Pennsylvania were closed for a time.

The ice was also blamed for injuries to a top state highway official. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Allen Biehler fell yesterday morning outside his Pittsburgh-area home and was admitted to a hospital with cracked ribs, a chipped elbow, and a collapsed lung, department spokesman Rich Kirkpatrick said, adding that he believed the fall was "ice-related."

Scott Christie, deputy secretary for highway administration, will take over in Biehler's absence.

SEPTA officials said a man was struck and killed by a westbound train on the Market-Frankford El line at 3:27 p.m. Authorities were unable to identify the man late yesterday and could give no further details. It was not immediately clear whether the accident was weather-related.