LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — Four people were killed in a string of crashes Thursday morning on the Ohio Turnpike in an incident that involved multiple scenes and shut down the roadway for miles.
The turnpike was closed in both directions stretching from Lucas County to Fulton County following the morning crash, a Lucas County dispatch told WTOL 11. As of 3 p.m. Thursday, all lanes had reopened.
A total of three crashes were involved in the incident that spanned 15 miles on the Ohio Turnpike, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol. Four people were confirmed dead and multiple people were injured.
In a press release from the Lucas County Coroner's Office, the coroner said only one of the bodies had been identified, but efforts to notify next of kin were underway Thursday afternoon.
The three remaining bodies were still pending identification.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to the scene of the crashes to conduct a safety investigation along with OSHP, according to a social media post Thursday afternoon. The team, including Chairperson Jennifer Homendy, is expected to arrive Thursday night.
Ferzan Ahmed with the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission issued the following statement on the crashes:
We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. We wish a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries.
We also commend the Ohio State Highway Patrol, first responders, law enforcement agencies, local safety/medical agencies, and staff from the Ohio Turnpike for their professionalism and rescue efforts at multiple crash locations.
Authorities with the highway patrol said the first crash occurred at approximately 5:34 a.m. on I-80 eastbound in Swanton Township near milepost 48.
The crash involved one commercial vehicle and one passenger vehicle. The initial crash resulted in two confirmed fatalities, and three others were transported to the hospital with "unknown injuries."
This crash caused a spill of sulfuric acid from the commercial vehicle and caused a hazmat situation. As a precaution, Toledo Fire & Rescue Department hazmat crews established a 150-foot perimeter around the scene.
Less than a half hour later at 5:59 a.m., a second crash happened near milepost 48 on eastbound I-80 in Fulton Township in eastern Fulton County.
The second crash involved four commercial vehicles and a passenger vehicle, OSHP said. One person was killed and three others were transported to the hospital with undisclosed injuries.
A third crash occurred around 6:24 a.m., again less than a half hour later, OSHP said. The crash happened in the westbound lanes, near milepost 50.8 in Swanton Township and involved three commercial vehicles and two passenger vehicles. The third crash resulted in one confirmed fatality and five additional injuries.
In total, 12 vehicles were involved in the string of crashes. More than 10 different fire departments responded to the scene and over 100 firefighters assisted.
At least 10 people were taken to the hospital with injuries. An unknown number of first responders and turnpike workers were treated and evaluated for hazmat exposure, according to officials.
Videos of the fire and crashes are included below, as provided to WTOL 11 by David Fulton.
This is a developing story. Stay with WTOL for updates.
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