Separate semi-truck crashes, one involving eight semi-trucks, caused significant delays and detours for motorists traveling on two northeast Ohio interstates early Tuesday morning.
FOX 8’s Patty Harken reported that two separate crashes involving semi-trucks had closed portions of I-71 in Medina County and I-80 in Trumbull County.
In Trumbull County, I-80 westbound between State Route 193 and State Route 11 was closed for about 5 hours, from 1:45 a.m. to 7 a.m., after a semi-truck jackknifed and other semi-trucks were unable to stop.
Harken described the crash as a chain reaction involving eight trucks. As a result, the Ohio Department of Transportation reported delays lasting 90 minutes or longer at times.
In Medina County, the Ohio Department of Transportation reported that I-71 northbound was closed between State Route 83 and I-76 due to an accident around 4:30 a.m.
For several hours, motorists were forced to use State Route 83 as a detour.
Harken reported that the right lane had reopened at 8:30 a.m. to help clear traffic that had become backed up due to the crash. ODOT reported delays of over an hour.
About an hour later, at 9:30, ODOT reported that motorists were no longer being detoured on SR 83; however, the left lane remained closed while crews worked to clean up debris.
According to officials, an overturned semi truck was carrying perishables.
There is no word yet on whether anyone was injured in either crash.
Traffic cameras in northeast Ohio showed wet roads and foggy conditions early Tuesday.
