One person dies after truck tanker carrying 7,500 gallons explodes when driver lost control on Ohio interstate as footage shows wild flames and black smoke billowing from crash

• A truck driver was traveling northbound on state Route 8 and was attempting to get on Interstate 271 when the truck lost control
• The heavy-load tanker, which was carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel, went over the side of a bridge, crashed on State Route 8 and exploded in a burst of flames
• Officials said the driver died at the scene due to injuries
• After the crash, diesel began to seep into a nearby river, leaked into Brandywine Falls and caused the Brandywine Creek to catch fire 

A man has died after a trucker carrying thousands of gallons of diesel lost control and caught fire between State Route 8 and Interstate 271 in Ohio.

According to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, a truck driver was traveling northbound on state Route 8 and was attempting to get on Interstate 271 through a ramp when he lost control at 9.15 am today. 

The heavy-load tanker, which was carrying 7,500 gallons of diesel, went over the side of the bridge, crashed back on State Route 8 and exploded in a burst of flames. 

Officials said the driver died at the scene due to injuries from the crash. 

Video shows wild flames blazing and black smoke billowing from the crash while the Summit County HAZMAT Team, Macedonia Fire Department, Twinsburg Fire Department, and other local fire departments responded to the scene. 

The Sheriff’s Office Patrol Units along with Deputies from the Summit County Jail were also present at the scene. 

According to CNN, the diesel in the truck began to seep into a nearby river, leaked into Brandywine Falls and caused the Brandywine Creek to catch fire after the crash.

Bryant Somerville, a Ohio Environmental Protection Agency spokesperson told the channel: ‘The nearby Brandywine Creek has been impacted with diesel from the crash. 

‘The creek briefly caught fire initially after the accident, and Ohio EPA’s on-scene coordinator is reporting the fire is out.’

Somerville further said that the EPA has set up containment measures to stop the diesel spread in the creek and will ‘oversee abatement efforts’. 

Matt Bruning, an Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson told CNN that crews at the scene are inspecting both the State Route 8 and Interstate 271 for damage. 

Bruning also clarified that the part of the road where the tanker exploded ‘will need to be repaved.’ 

‘I don’t have a timeline on that [the reopening]. I also have not yet heard details about the bridge inspection. We will not reopen anything until we deem it safe to motorists.’ the transport official said. 

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the ramp between State Route 8 to I-271 north is currently closed and State Route 8 is currently closed in both directions, till the bridge can be inspected for safety. 

The Summit Metro Crash Team are still investigating the cause of the crash. 

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