MACEDONIA, Ohio — Environmental officials in Ohio were back on the scene Sunday after a burning tanker truck accident, working to contain thousands of gallons (liters) of diesel fuel spilled during the accident.
According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the truck that crashed Saturday morning, killing the driver, was carrying approximately 50,000 gallons (28,390 liters) of diesel fuel. A nearby creek briefly caught fire and the agency attempted to stop the spread of the fuel.
As part of that effort, response crews will excavate affected soil, according to the state EPA. Officials will remain on site to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to ensure the health and safety of residents and waterways, the agency said in a written statement.
The crash happened around 9:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Macedonia Police, who responded to the scene near the on-ramp to Interstate 271 north in Northfield Center Township.
The tanker truck was traveling north on State Route 8 and trying to reach northbound Interstate 271 when the driver lost control and went over the side of the bridge, the sheriff’s office said.
The truck landed in the northbound lanes of State Route 8 and exploded in flames.
Fire crews arriving at the scene found that the tanker driver had died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The accident forced several roads to be closed. The crash is under investigation.