I-75 collision causes detour at rush hour

11/4/2005

Morning rush-hour commuters in Toledo were rerouted yesterday after a car going the wrong way on northbound I-75 collided head on with a tractor-trailer, which blocked all lanes of traffic.

William Benton, 41, of Connellsville, Pa., was northbound when a southbound car driven by Troy Dowling, 27, of the 3600 block of Helene Court, came toward him, police said.

The vehicles changed into the same lane, where they collided about 2 a.m. at the Anthony Wayne Trail exit. Mr. Dowling's car hit the curb barrier; the semi hit the center barrier, causing the rig to block all the traffic lanes, police said.

Sgt. Paul Kerschbaum said about 250 gallons of diesel fuel spilled. A drum of suspected hydrochloric acid inside the trailer also leaked. Firefighters contained the suspected acid; a cleanup company was called in, Deputy Fire Chief Bob Metzger said.

Mr. Dowling, an administrative technician in the city finance department, suffered a broken finger. Mr. Benton was not hurt. All traffic lanes were reopened by the afternoon.