Multiple crashes on Ohio Turnpike kill 4, injure 10

SWANTON, Ohio — Multiple crashes Thursday morning along a section of the Ohio Turnpike in Northwest Ohio killed four people and injured at least 10 others while closing a section of the highway in both directions for several hours.

The State Highway Patrol tells WTOL Channel 11 there were three separate crashes over a 15-mile section of the turnpike. The first crash occurred at about 5:34 a.m. in the eastbound lanes just west of Toledo, the patrol said. Two people were killed in the crash involving a passenger vehicle and a truck hauling sulfuric acid, resulting in a spill. Emergency crews set up a 150-foot perimeter around the spill.

The second crash occurred as traffic was backed up from the first incident and involved four commercial vehicles and a passenger vehicle. One person was killed.

A third crash occurred nearly an hour after the initial crash and killed one person. WTOL reports 12 vehicles total were involved in the crashes. About 100 firefighters from 10 different departments responded.

WTVG Channel 13 reports hazardous material crews were called to clean up sulfuric acid, acetone and methanol. WTVG also reports that some rescuers were taken to hospitals because of exposure to the chemicals.

All lanes of the turnpike reopened at about 3 p.m. The National Transportation Safety Board is assisting with the investigation into the crash, reports say.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)