Accident closes Turnpike ramp, one man life flighted
NORTH JACKSON, Ohio - A Pennsylvania man is taken by life-flight after his tractor trailer overturns, closing a ramp from Interstate 76 to the Turnpike.
The State Highway Patrols, says the tractor trailer was carrying an estimated 8 to 9-thousand gallons of "unpasteurized" milk.
They say the driver was exiting I-76 Eastbound, and getting onto the Turnpike ramp. The driver missed the ramps curve, rolling into an embankment and landing upside down.
Officials believe all of the milk did spill into a creek that feeds Meandor Reservoir, which supplies area water.
Haz-mat crews were called to assist because the milk is "unpasteurized" which means it contains bacteria that could be harmful to vegetation. However Haz-mat officials, say human consumption of the water is not a concern right now.
"We've actually been in contact with the engineer from Meandor Reservoir. I talked with a representative who was on scene with us earlier. He was speaking to the engineer. He was going to monitor everything but because of the treatment that goes into the water coming out of Meandor he's not really concerned with anything at this point," said Lt. Adam Noble with the Mahoning County Haz-mat Response Team.
The driver was an 81 year-male from Pennsylvania. His name and condition have not yet been released.