NTSB: Commercial tractor-truck caused massive Ohio turnpike crash

The National Transportation Safety Board held a news conference on Friday afternoon regarding the multiple collisions involving tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles on the Ohio Turnpike.

You can watch some of that press conference in the player below:

Four people were killed, and several others were injured on the Ohio Turnpike in a series of crashes involving multiple trucks, including one hauling sulfuric acid, the State Highway Patrol said.

Just before 5:30 a.m. Thursday morning, a 2014 Toyota Highlander slowed down — for a reason unknown— and was struck on Interstate 80 from the rear by a 2019 Mack truck-tractor with a van semi-trailer, according to National Transportation Safety Board Investigator Kenny Bragg.

"After this impact, the Toyota veered off to the right —off the right side of the highway—the truck-tractor struck a concrete barrier, overturned, causing the release of its hazardous material cargo," Bragg said.

The other two crashes are still being investigated.

Lucas County Municipal Court says a 24-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and vehicular manslaughter.

WTVG in Toledo was on the scene and captured these videos in the aftermath:

The crashes shut down both directions of the heavily traveled route that carries Interstate 80 and connects Chicago and the East Coast.

The first crash just west of Toledo left one dead and involved four commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle, the patrol said. A second crash left two dead and caused sulfuric acid to spill on the roadway. Emergency crews set up a 150-foot (46-meter) perimeter around the spill.

Just under an hour after the initial crash, a third pileup left another person dead, the patrol said.

Ohio State Highway Patrol

The Swanton Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol gave more detail on the three fatal crashes that happened on the Ohio Turnpike Thursday morning.

The first crash occurred at approximately 5:34 a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound near Milepost 49 in Swanton Township, Fulton County that involved one commercial vehicle and one passenger vehicle. This first crash resulted in two confirmed fatalities and three additional occupants were transported to Toledo area hospitals with unknown injuries. One of the commercial vehicles was hauling sulfuric acid. The Toledo Fire Department established a 150’ perimeter around the scene as a precaution.


The second crash occurred at approximately 5:59 a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound near Milepost 48 in Swanton Township, Fulton County that involved four commercial vehicles and one passenger vehicle. This crash resulted in one confirmed fatality, and three additional occupants were transported to area hospitals for unknown injuries.



The third crash occurred at approximately 6:24 a.m. on Interstate 80 westbound near Milepost 50.8 in Swanton Township, Lucas County that involved three commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles. This crash resulted in one confirmed fatality and five additional injuries.

The turnpike was closed for several hours in both directions this morning, but now at least one eastbound and one westbound lane are open.

The OSHP was assisted on scene by other responders and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Executive Director Ferzan M. Ahmed of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission released a statement regarding the fatal crashes early Thursday.

We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We wish a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries.

We also commend the Ohio State Highway Patrol, first responders, law enforcement agencies, local safety/medical agencies, and staff from the Ohio Turnpike for their professionalism and rescue efforts at multiple crash locations.

The investigation is still ongoing.