Victims of overnight crash in Berlin Township identified
BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio- Two people are dead after an overnight crash on State Route 534 in Berlin Township on Monday.
The crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. Monday and crews were still clearing the wreckage early Tuesday morning.
A 2008 Freightliner Ryder straight truck was traveling south on Route 534 when it drove off the right side of the roadway.
The vehicle then over corrected and traveled left of center, striking a commercial tractor trailer driven by Mark Hoskins of Alliance.
"He went off the right side of the road and over-corrected. Drove left of center and struck the semi head on," says Ohio State Highway Patrolman Michael Wilson.
The patrol says both vehicles burst into flames seconds after impact and the two men in the smaller truck were pinned in the wreckage.
Driver Jarod Todd Cameron, 23, and Ryan Zwingler, 29 were both identified as the victims by the Mahoning County Coroner.
The sound of the crash was heard and felt by residents a half mile from the scene. Everett Cronkshaw was in bed watching TV.
"I heard these doors rattling like someone was trying to bang on the door, so I got up to look around," says Cronkshaw. "I looked out my kitchen window and I could see flames coming across my neighbor's house."
Another resident, Craig Congas, was sleeping when the accident happened.
"My wife woke me up. She said she heard an explosion then a minute or two later there was another one or two explosions," Congas says. "And it just kept exploding, there were about five explosions."
The driver and passenger of the straight truck were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Highway Patrol says the explosions were most likely the trucks many large tires.
Hoskins, the driver of the tractor trailer, was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital and is in stable condition.
Bonnie Plants, an Alabama-based national plant wholesaler and employer for the two victims, issued a statement in regard to the accident. It read:
"Words are inadequate to express the grief and deep sadness we feel for the tragic loss of the lives of two of our valued team members. In deep sorrow we mourn their loss, in deep sympathy we reach out to all those who are grieving. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families and friends of those lost, during this most difficult time. It is our hope that memories of love shared will provide some strength and comfort to all those affected by this tragedy, now and in the days ahead."
