Two vehicle accidents minutes apart

Emergency personnel were kept busy this morning with two separate vehicle accidents that occurred within several minutes of each other. The first accident, reported just before 6:30 a.m., occurred near the intersection of North Third and Avenue G. A 2005 Toyota Camry LE traveling southeast on North Third crossed the center line and hit a parked Mini Cooper head-on, pushing it into another parked Mini Cooper. The impact pushed both parked cars partially onto the sidewalk.

A second accident was reported just after 6:30 a.m., in which a white Volkswagen Jetta TDI traveling east on Route 30, just beyond the Route 441 overpass, broke through the end of a guard rail near the Columbia exit. The vehicle then slid down an embankment and came to rest on its side near the Columbia Visitors Center parking lot. The occupant, who was initially trapped, was freed from the vehicle and found to be uninjured.

Tonight's meeting is cancelled

Tonight's Meeting of the Whole scheduled for 6 p.m. at the borough hall has been cancelled.

A re-organizational meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on January 4.

About Town

Some photos from around town today . . .

Some say the town is going to the dogs . . .

But actually it may be going to the arts. These paintings were being unloaded at The Arts @ Hinkle's along Locust Street this afternoon . . .

Meanwhile, at Front and Walnut . . .

Things were malfunctioning again. The railroad barricades activated randomly and interfered with the traffic signals, causing them to stay red in both directions simultaneously for about 30 seconds at a time.  A pedestrian warned motorists of the malfunctions and helped direct traffic through the intersection.  Finally, a Norfolk Southern employee arrived and fixed the glitch.

And finally, out along 462 just beyond the Columbia Plaza (heading east): This van, which is still parked along the highway, was sideswiped by another vehicle last night at about 3:30 a.m., according to a witness who lives nearby. 

The takeaway is: Don't park along the highway.

Seen in a local store window

Vote for members to serve on the Old Columbia Public Grounds Company.

Injury reported in two-car collision in Columbia

http://lancasteronline.com/columbia/news/injury-reported-in-two-car-collision-in-columbia/article_b9f49bf0-ac4f-11e5-a21c-87a50866e435.html

$4.4M in transit grants will boost trails, pedestrian-friendly projects, except in Columbia

Submissions that didn't get money included a Northwest River Trail connection and Third Street improvement projects in Columbia Borough.

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/m-in-transit-grants-will-boost-trails-pedestrian-friendly-projects/article_1243e61a-aa8b-11e5-9dd5-23cedd58db54.html

More bugs on 441

There were more problems with the traffic signals and railroad barricades at Front and Walnut this afternoon at about four o'clock. A Norfolk Southern worker reset the barricades, but as of this posting, the traffic signals are still not functioning properly. The lights on Front Street (Route 441) are flashing yellow, while those on Walnut Street are flashing red.