- A truck driver was traveling north on State Route 8 trying to get onto Interstate 271 when the truck lost control
- The heavy tanker, carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel, went over the side of a bridge, crashed on State Route 8 and exploded in a burst of flames.
- According to police, the driver died at the scene from his injuries
- After the crash, diesel fuel began seeping into a nearby river, leaking into Brandywine Falls and causing the Brandywine Creek to catch fire.
A man has died after a truck driver carrying thousands of gallons of diesel fuel lost control and burst into flames between State Route 8 and Interstate 271 in Ohio.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, a truck driver was traveling north on State Route 8 and was attempting to exit an on-ramp onto Interstate 271 when he lost control at 9:15 a.m. today.
The heavy tanker, carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel, went over the side of the bridge, crashed on State Route 8 and exploded in a burst of flames.
Officials said the driver died at the scene due to injuries from the crash.
Video shows wild flames and black smoke billowing from the crash as the Summit County HAZMAT team, Macedonia Fire Department, Twinsburg Fire Department and other local fire departments responded to the scene.
According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the unidentified truck driver was traveling north on State Route 8 and attempting to get onto Interstate 271 when the truck lost control at 9:15 a.m. today.
The heavy vehicle, carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel, went over the side of a bridge, crashed back onto State Route 8 and exploded in a burst of flames.
Video shows massive flames and black smoke billowing from the crash as the Summit County HAZMAT team, Macedonia Fire Department, Twinsburg Fire Department and other local fire departments responded to the scene
Sheriff’s Office patrol units and Summit County Jail deputies also responded to the scene.
According to CNNthe diesel fuel in the truck began seeping into a nearby river, leaking into Brandywine Falls and causing the Brandywine Creek to catch fire after the crash.
Bryant Somerville, a spokesman for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, told the station: “The nearby Brandywine Creek was affected by diesel fuel as a result of the crash.
“The creek initially caught fire shortly after the accident, and the Ohio EPA on-scene coordinator reports the fire is out.”
Somerville further said the EPA has implemented containment measures to stop the spread of diesel fuel in the creek and will “monitor abatement efforts.”
Matt Bruning, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Transportation, told CNN that crews are on scene inspecting both State Route 8 and Interstate 271 for damage.
Bruning also clarified that the part of the road where the tanker exploded ‘will have to be rebuilt.’
“I don’t have a timeline on that (the reopening). I also haven’t heard any details about the bridge inspection yet. We will not reopen anything until we deem it safe for motorists.” the transportation official said.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the ramp between State Route 8 to I-271 north is currently closed and State Route 8 is currently closed in both directions until the bridge can be inspected for safety.
The Summit Metro Crash Team is still investigating the cause of the crash.