PennDOT To Be Darned To Heck

The state is set to begin hearings tomorrow on the snafu that led to hundreds of motorists being stranded for hours and hours on Interstate 78 in Pennsylvania. The state is ready to say “whoops!” and move on, but they’ve also set up an email address (stormresponse AT pasen DOT gov) for people to complain.

John Baer notes in his column today that the complaints are already rolling in, including this one from a couple in their seventies:

A husband and wife in their 70s were stuck in their car in a snow bank for six hours off Interstate 84 despite calls to 911 and PennDOT. They hope “there is a special place in purgatory for PennDOT officials.”

A special place in purgatory? (Perhaps it’s the spirit of Ash Wednesday.) You know, I like this new kinder, gentler brand of complaining. Nobody’s going to hell; they’re just going to purgatory for a while. So, you know, even though this married couple was stranded for six hours in a snow bank, they still believe PennDOT officials can achieve salvation. That’s nice.

John Baer | Will hearings on I-78 backup provide answers to the outraged victims? [Daily News]