Bomb scare, bus crash cause traffic headaches in Center City

Traffic was snarled Friday afternoon in Center City after a bomb scare forced the shutdown of the Market-Frankford line and a two-bus collision further clogged the streets around City Hall.

Around 4 p.m., an unattended package was spotted in the track area at the Fifth Street station, said SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch. Power to the tracks had to be turned off for a bomb squad to investigate. The Market-Frankford line was closed between 15th and Spring Garden Streets until about 4:45 p.m., and commuters were transferred to shuttle buses.

Shortly after 4 p.m., a Route 17 bus was involved in an accident with a Megabus at 15th and Market Streets, Busch said. Three passengers from the SEPTA bus reported neck and back pain and were transported to Hahnemann University Hospital to be treated. No injuries to passengers on the Megabus were reported. - Robert Moran