Five people were injured in car crashes Sunday in Mercer County and local police were kept busy today as the arrival of snow, slush and ice made driving a challenge.

The most serious wreck reported by area police was a head-on collision at 3:55 p.m. Sunday on North Water Avenue in Hermitage.

Hurt was Larry Clemente, 53, of 55 Sturgeon Lane, Clarks Mills. He was listed in fair condition this morning at the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System.

Clemente's southbound car crossed the center line and slammed into an oncoming car driven by Matthew Hetrick, 22, of 525 Dutch Lane, Hermitage, police said.

Hetrick was treated at the hospital, police said. Clemente was cited, police said. Hermitage police said they responded to about a dozen other crashes Sunday.

At 4 p.m. Sunday in Springfield Township, a car driven by Bronwynn Sutton of Allison Park was hit by a PennDOT snowplow after the car ran a red light at state Routes 258 and 208, state police said. Ms. Sutton was treated at United Community Hospital, Pine Township, police said.

Sherry Lynn Runzo, 31, of Beloit, Ohio, was treated at UPMC Horizon, Greenville, after her car went out of control at 4:45 p.m. Sunday on an icy Kinsman Road in Greene Township, police said. Ms. Runzo's car went off the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its roof, police said.

Melissa Filer of Mercer, was treated at UCH after her car went out of control at 4:15 p.m. on U.S. Route 19 north of Tait Road in Coolspring Township. It went off the road, hit an embankment and then a telephone pole, police said.

Four people escaped injury Sunday when Kathleen A. McCreary of Mercer lost control of her van on U.S. Route 62 in East Lackawannock Township, police said. It crossed the center lane and hit a car driven by Heidi Holland of Hermitage, police said.

State police reported a handful of other wrecks Sunday due to snowy conditions on rural roads and Interstates 79 and 80. No one was seriously injured.

Early today, at least three accidents were reported at the cloverleaf exchange that links U.S. Route 62 and Ohio Route 82 in Brookfield. Brookfield police also reported a snow-related crash at Route 62 and Bedford Road. No one was hurt in those wrecks, police said.

Hempfield Township police reported snow- and slush-related accidents Sunday on St. Glory and Wasser Bridge roads and on Kennard Road in Sugar Grove Township. No injuries were reported.

South Pymatuning Township police reported one snow-related crash Sunday.

Hermitage police added that an unoccupied South Pymatuning Township police cruiser parked at the scene of a crash on a windy stretch of Lamor Road -- west of state Route 18 -- was damaged Sunday when a car slid into it.

Jefferson-Clark Regional Police said they responded to a handful of crashes. No one was injured in the wrecks, police said.

Also, a power outage was reported in Hempfield Township, but no one from Pennsylvania Power Co. was available to say what caused it, how long it lasted or how many people were affected.