Truck crashes keep I-75 closed for 3 hours

5/9/2001

Two tractor-trailers jackknifed on rain-slicked I-75 under the Bancroft Street underpass early yesterday, forcing all of the southbound lanes to be closed for about three hours.

The accident occurred at 3:17 a.m. when a southbound tractor-trailer, owned by Challenger Freight, went out of control on the interstate and struck the concrete median at Bancroft, police said.

The tractor-tractor jackknifed across the southbound lanes. As other vehicles stopped, a truck owned by TNT Canada jackknifed and hit another vehicle.

Toledo firefighters poured a drying material on fuel and oil that spilled onto the freeway from the first accident.

No one was hurt seriously, and police diverted traffic to the North Detroit Avenue off ramp until one lane reopened about 6:30 a.m.

The remaining lanes opened later in the morning.

Last year, the Ohio Department of Transportation put up chevron-style arrow signs on southbound I-75 at the Bancroft curve and both sides of Detroit Avenue to alert motorists to the freeway's curves.