College Basketball

Duquesne bus finally on the move after being stuck in snowstorm

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:09 p.m. ET

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Hundreds of motorists were stuck in the mile-long backup, munching on snacks and watching movies to pass the time, before National Guard members and heavy construction equipment began digging vehicles out Saturday.

More than 500 cars, trucks and buses got stuck Friday night as snow started to fall. However a turnpike official said no one was expected to spend a second night on the snow-choked highway. Crews were removing barriers between the eastbound and westbound lanes and allowing vehicles to fuel up at a turnpike maintenance shed before getting off the highway.

Temple gymnastics coach Umme Salim-Beasley, whose team also was stuck, said National Guard members handed out military rations.

"They are one by one trying to plow out vehicles and trying to get them moving," she said.

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's office said the problems in Somerset County began after westbound tractor-trailers were unable to climb a hill. As traffic backed up behind them, more trucks became unable to go up the hill, backing up all vehicles and preventing emergency crews from getting heavy-duty tow trucks to the scene and road crews from being able to clear the snow.

Wolf said each vehicle had been checked at least once and workers had been delivering food and as fuel to make sure engines keep running so the heat can stay on. He said the state was working to get shelters in place quickly so people can be moved to them in buses if necessary.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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