Jason Thomas Stevens Obituary – The driver of the tanker truck involved in the crash in Ohio, which resulted in the spillage of thousands of gallons of diesel fuel, has been identified by authorities. The Summit County medical examiner’s office confirmed that Jason Thomas Stevens, a 31-year-old resident of Ashtabula, died from multiple blunt-force injuries as a result of the accident. The crash occurred on Saturday morning at the ramp to Interstate 271 at State Route 8 in Northfield Center Township, located in the Akron suburbs. The cause of the crash has been ruled accidental.
According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the tanker truck was carrying approximately 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel, which subsequently flowed into Brandywine Creek due to the fire. Efforts have been made to contain the spill by installing booms and skimming the fuel off the surface. Additionally, contractors have been working to remove the contaminated soil from the area.
As of Monday, several roll-off boxes containing affected soil and 3,500 gallons of affected water have been removed for disposal. However, access to some containment points has been limited due to high water levels caused by recent rains. Despite this, officials are closely monitoring the waterways and installing more booms downstream. The county sheriff’s office reported that the tanker truck was traveling north on Route 8 and attempting to enter Interstate 271 when the driver lost control. The truck then went over the side of the bridge, landing on the northbound lanes of Route 8 and subsequently exploding in flames.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has determined that repairs are necessary for the south end of the Route 8 bridge over Brandywine Creek. A contractor will be milling off the top layer of the bridge surface and replacing it. The completion of this work is expected by the end of the week, weather permitting. While no significant structural damage or other concerns have been identified in other areas, further inspections will be conducted. Authorities anticipate completing the inspections and implementing an action plan early this week. However, they caution that closures resulting from the crash may still be in effect.