'God put me in the right place': Passersby pull driver from truck after fiery I-77 crash

A truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries Saturday after his truck overturned on Interstate 77 in Bath Township, at one point restricting nearly all traffic in both directions.

An investigation found the dump truck was traveling northbound on I-77 near mile post 137 around 11 a.m. when it struck a concrete barrier wall and rolled over it into the southbound lanes of the interstate, according to a report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The dump truck, which was filled with tons of gravel that had spilled out, was engulfed in flames shortly after it crashed, according to a Bath police dispatch from that time.

The truck driver, Tony Hodges, 39, of Cuyahoga Falls, was transported to Akron General with minor injuries, the OSHP report states.

Drivers pull Hodges out of wreckage

Bill Hershberger of Marshallville, who was driving on I-77 north at the time of the accident, and Karl Mounts of Akron's Kenmore neighborhood, who was driving on I-77 south, both helped to pull Hodges out of the overturned, burning truck.

Both said their adrenaline was pumping and they knew it was the right thing to do to pull out Hodges, who was screaming for help.

They said they moved a tarp and gravel that had blocked the passenger door. The driver door was against the concrete barrier, Hershberger said.

Mounts said he saw the truck flip over.

Hershberger said the truck was fully engulfed within minutes of them pulling Hodges out, adding: "God put me in the right place."

The OSHP report said the Bath Fire Department also assisted in pulling Hodges from the truck.

What is traffic like in the area?

Southbound traffic was restricted to one lane in the late morning and afternoon Saturday. All lanes were clear as of 5:35 p.m.

Northbound traffic was restricted to one lane in the late morning and was fully clear by mid-afternoon.

Kenmore Construction Company and Johnny's Towing cleaned up the gravel on I-77 south, according to the OSHP report.

Officials opened the right lane on I-77 south at Ghent Road around 12:15 p.m. Saturday, leaving the left two lanes closed. Prior to that, all lanes were closed in that direction south of Ghent Road.

Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bath fire and police, Copley fire and police and Fairlawn fire and police responded to the scene, according to the report.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'God put me in the right place': Passersby pull driver from truck after fiery I-77 crash