An accident involving a commercial truck, such as an eighteen-wheeler or other large freight carrier, is typically much more catastrophic than an ordinary traffic accident. These truck accidents can be extremely serious as a typical fully-loaded large commercial truck can weigh 80,000 pounds or more, while an average passenger automobile weighs approximately 3,000 pounds. Additionally these truck accidents can cause major delays in traffic flow as well as major injuries and even death.
Recently, an Ohio truck accident involving a semi-truck and a passenger vehicle caused busy Ohio Interstate 44 to close down for nearly 5 hours from 2 to 7 p.m. on Thursday. According to Ohio State Highway Patrol, the truck accident occurred around 2:09 p.m. on Ohio 44 when a passenger vehicle driven by a 54-year-old man from Chardon attempted to pass a tractor-trailer driven by a 45-year-old truck driver from Cleveland. Police detailed that both vehicles were traveling northbound on Ohio 44 when the driver of the car pulled out into the southbound lane and tried to pass the truck in a designated no-passing zone. When the car attempted to get back in the northbound lane, his car collided with the tractor-trailer.
As a result of the collision, both vehicles were forced off the side of the road. The truck overturned and spilled its cargo into a field. One of the drivers was taken t University Hospitals’ Geauga Medical Center where he was treated and released. Ohio 44 was closed between Ohio 87 and East Washington Street until 7:11 p.m. Thursday. Police are still investigating this truck accident. No charges have been filed as of now.
Source: Cleveland.com “Crash closes Ohio 44 in Auburn Township for five hours” 10/01/2010