Tanker Truck Crash Closes Highway
Posted by
Christina ColeJanuary 17, 2007 2:27 AMA tanker truck crashed while transporting 6,000 gallons of hazardous chemicals at approximately 5am on Monday on Ohio 18 just west of Hartland Center Road.
The east-west highway was closed down until 3pm, said a spokeswoman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Other than fuel, none of the hazardous chemicals were released into the atmosphere, said Fire Chief Bob Johannsen.
Two commercial trucks were involved in the crash, said a dispatcher from the Norwalk Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The drivers, Ronald W. Buchholz and Melissa Keller, were transported to Fisher-Titus Medical Center for treatment. Injuries were unknown.
Buccholz was driving a 2007 International tanker truck from Toledo to Medina, said Highway Patrol. The tanker truck was carrying two extremely flammable chemicals - xylene and tolulene - said Johannsen.
Keller was driving a 2000 Volvo conventional dump truck east, with Buchholz behind the tanker, according to patrol.
When Keller turned into the driveway, Buchholz attempted to pass in the other lane. The tanker hit the dump truck, which drove off the left side of the road into a ditch. The tanker parked car and a tree.
Volunteer firefighters were called to the scene of an accident with an entrapped driver and a tanker full of hazardous chemicals. They arrived thankful to find diesel fuel had spilled, but the more volatile chemicals remained in the tank, Johannsen said.Also, the drivers did not appear to be injured seriously, said Johannsen. Firefighters used a mechanical device to open the truck cab and remove Buchholz from the wreck, Johannsen said.