NOVELTY, Ohio — Crews are continuing to clean up after a truck carrying hazardous waste from the cleanup in East Palestine overturned in Geauga County.
Russell fire officials say that the incident happened at 5:17 a.m. on Tuesday at the intersection of Chagrin Mills Road and Chillicothe Road. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters discovered a dual-axel tanker on its side.
As a result of the crash, multiple utility lines and a pole were down. Additionally, the Chagrin Southeast Regional Hazmat team responded due to diesel fuel that was spilled as a result of the vehicle crash, which Hazmat crews contained upon arrival. Officials say that the contents of the tanker truck were identified as a Class 9 hazardous material.
According to the Ohio EPA, the truck was carrying approximately 5,000 gallons of hazardous waste that originated from the ongoing cleanup in East Palestine following the toxic train derailment 11 months ago. Approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel and four gallons of wastewater spilled from the truck.
The driver of the truck was treated at the scene and was taken to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital by Russell Township EMS.
The assistant fire chief told 3News that the intersection at Chagrin Mills Road is still closed while the utility company continues to repair extensive damage.
The Ohio EPA reports that environmental contractors hired by the trucking company (Kuhnle Bros.) excavated the soil impacted by the diesel fuel and around the leaking wastewater from the tanker. "The power company is installing two new poles to replace the ones that were damaged. Once that is complete, lawn restoration will begin on the affected properties with new soil, grading, and reseeding. This process could last several days," the agency told 3News in a statement.
The truck was loaded in East Palestine on Dec. 29, according to the Ohio EPA. It was temporarily parked at the Kuhnle facility until Tuesday morning, when it departed for Vickery Environmental in Northwest Ohio for "deep well injection disposal."
Representatives from the trucking company, Ohio EPA, Ohio Public Utilities Commission, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Valley Enforcement Group Accident Investigation Unit, Norfolk Southern, and utility companies all responded to the scene.
