2 truck drivers injured in morning crash

3/6/2007

BRYAN - Two truck drivers were injured this morning in a crash involving a tanker and semi truck that closed both westbound lanes of the Ohio Turnpike for about 30 minutes, and shut down the driving lane for several hours in Williams County’s Northwest Township near the Indiana-Ohio line.

A commercial tanker semi, driven by Stanley Pickle, 59, of Laffollette, Tenn., which had been parked on the shoulder, pulled onto the roadway and was struck from behind by a semi driven by Monte Jackson, 59, of Manchester, Mich., at about 2 a.m. The tanker, which was hauling a paint product, did not rupture, but the semi spilled a portion of a paint product that it was hauling.

Bryan Fire Chief Bruce Siders advised that the mixture could cause respiratory inflammation and irritate the eyes, but nobody at the scene experienced any difficulties, according to troopers with the Swanton post of the Ohio Highway Patrol. About 100 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at the scene. The Bryan fire department's hazardous materials response team responded to the scene.

Mr. Jackson, who was seriously injured, was taken by air ambulance to the University Medical Center in Toledo. Mr. Pickle was transported to an area hospital. Conditions of the two drivers were unavailable this morning.

The Ohio EPA is coordinating the cleanup effort, according to the highway patrol.

Read more in later editions of The Blade and toledoblade.com.