Semi truck explodes on SR 41 WATCH THE VIDEO
A multi-vehicle crash caused a semi truck to burst into flames on state Route 41 three miles north of Greenfield Friday at approximately 6 p.m.
According to a witness at the scene, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office, and fire crews from Washington C.H. area, along with the Paint Creek Joint Fire/EMS Department out of Greenfield responded to the scene.
According to a witness, a vehicle traveling on the roadway hit the guardrail and then struck the semi truck. Following the impact, the truck exploded. Some people were seen running from the vehicles.
According to Nancy Burton, public information officer for Ohio Department of Transportation District 6, which includes Fayette County, because the accident and subsequent fire occured on a bridge, officials are concerned with its structural integrity. A bridge inspector has been called in to examine the bridge.
"The bridge inspector is headed down there right now," Burton said. "Because there was a fire and heat on the bridge, our (Fayette) county manager has some questions about the bridge and wants to make sure there was not any damage. It will be a couple of hours before we know anything else."
Because oil and diesel fuel was possibly leaking into the creek beneath the bridge, the scene was being treated as a hazmat situation, she said.
Burton said that a small portion of state Route 41 was closed down to all traffic, but only near the crash site. The roadway is closed due to the wreckage and bridge situation, and not a potential hazardous materials issue.
"Our county manager is on the scene and he has been in close contact," Burton said.
The Fayette County Sheriff's Office is reporting that at least one person was transferred to an area hospital. The nature of the injuries is not known.
A Columbus television news report from 10TV said that texting may have played a role in the crash.
A 17-year-old girl was airlifted by medical helicopter to The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus and was in critical condition, 10TV reported.
A stretch of S.R. 41 remained closed on Saturday morning while authorities determined if the crash and fire caused any damage to the bridge. The road was reopened on Saturday afternoon.