CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The tanker truck driver who was killed in a fiery crash on Route 8 over the weekend was employed by Kenan Advantage Group, 19 Investigates has confirmed.
The North Canton-based trucking company released following written statement on Tuesday afternoon:
“On Saturday, January 27, one of our professional drivers, Jason Stevens, was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Macedonia, Ohio. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and co-workers of our KAG team member, who did not survive the accident. Our primary concern has always been for the safety and security of our employees, the public, our customers, and the environment. This is an exceedingly difficult time for our organization as this tragedy impacts all of us in the KAG family. We have been working closely with local officials and corresponding agencies and will continue to do so in the days ahead. We would like to thank all the first responders for their immediate response to this incident.”
Stevens, 31, was a married father from Ashtabula who earned his commercial driver’s license after graduating high school, according to his obituary.
The Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office said Stevens died from blunt force injuries and ruled that his death was accidental.
19 Investigates found that Saturday’s fatal crash was not the first deadly incident involving Kenan Advantage Group employees or equipment.
In February 2020, two people died following a hazmat incident at a Kenan Advantage Group garage on Union Avenue in Cleveland.
30-year-old Ashley Friedman and 60-year-old Allen Linder both died from asphyxia after entering a tank that was being cleaned with nitrogen.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued multiple safety citations to Kenan Advantage Group and ordered the company to pay a fine.
OSHA records show a Kenan Advantage Group employee was killed in Portland, Oregon in 2015 after driving down an embankment and crashing into a parked train, which then started a fire. The company was not cited by OSHA.
Kenan Advantage Group has received OSHA citations and fines for non-fatal safety violations at facilities in North Canton in Nov. 2020 and Tennessee in Oct. 2023.
Dozens of people have been injured in crashes involving Kenan Advantage Group trucks over the last two years, according to Department of Transportation records uncovered by 19 Investigates.
A total of 101 crashes involving Kenan Advantage Group trucks were reported to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration between Jan. 28, 2022 and Jan. 28, 2024.
While at least 38 of those crashes resulted in injuries, none of the incidents were fatal, according to DOT records.
Kenan Advantage Group touts itself as “North America’s largest tank truck transporter and logistics provider” and employs over 3,300 drivers.
The company has a “satisfactory” safety rating from the DOT.
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