A 7,500-gallon diesel tanker truck exploded in Ohio, killing one

A tragic incident occurred as a man lost his life, prompting the closure of several roads in northeast Ohio and the contamination of a river with diesel following a tanker truck's loss of control and subsequent explosion on Saturday morning.

According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, the driver of the tanker truck was traveling north on State Route 8 in Macedonia, approximately 18 miles north of Akron. While attempting to merge onto Interstate 271, the driver lost control, leading the truck to veer off the bridge and explode upon impact as it returned to State Route 8.

Tragically, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency response teams, including hazmat personnel, swiftly arrived at the scene of the fiery crash at 9:15 a.m. local time, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.

The spilled diesel from the tanker infiltrated a nearby river, seeping into Brandywine Falls, a 60-foot waterfall, causing a brief ignition of a creek, as reported by the sheriff’s office.

In response to the incident, ramps connecting State Route 8 to Interstate 271 have been shut down in both directions. Officials have stated that these closures will persist until the safety inspection of the bridge is completed, which is currently underway.

Authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash's cause.