What should have been an easy Sunday afternoon walk turned out otherwise in Ohio. A snowplow was seen dumping slush on the opposite lane of the Ohio Turnpike, causing crashes and mass damage to unsuspecting cars.
Reports indicate that more than 40 vehicles were damaged by the ordeal.
In a video posted on Reddit (incorporated below), the plow was seen running at the same speed as other vehicles while clearing its side of the road – while dumping loads of debris into the oncoming lane.
According to a report by Cleveland News, the incident happened around 1:46 p.m. (local time) near mile marker 114. At least 12 people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the carrier said. Highway Patrol spokesperson, Ray Santiago.
A video of MLive on YouTube shows the damage to the affected vehicles. Some have cracked windshields, while others suffered damage from hitting other motorists and the guardrails. We have embedded this video at the top of this page.
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission spokesman Charles Cyrill said the snowplow driver had been with the Ohio Turnpike since December 2015. He was immediately sent for a mandatory alcohol and drug test after the incident, and is now on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Cyrill noted that the snow plow operators received extensive training and equipment to perform their duties. This is just an isolated incident involving a single operator, Cyrill added.
“The Ohio Turnpike is one of the safest highways in the nation and is especially known for its ability to meet the demands of the most severe weather events,” Cyrill said.
Everyone affected by the incident is being contacted by the commission through the Ohio State Highway Patrol. They can also file a property damage claim with the Ohio Turnpike.
What should have been an easy Sunday afternoon walk turned out otherwise in Ohio. A snowplow was seen dumping slush on the opposite lane of the Ohio Turnpike, causing crashes and mass damage to unsuspecting cars.
Reports indicate that more than 40 vehicles were damaged by the ordeal.
In a video posted on Reddit (incorporated below), the plow was seen running at the same speed as other vehicles while clearing its side of the road – while dumping loads of debris into the oncoming lane.
According to a report by Cleveland News, the incident happened around 1:46 p.m. (local time) near mile marker 114. At least 12 people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the carrier said. Highway Patrol spokesperson, Ray Santiago.
A video of MLive on YouTube shows the damage to the affected vehicles. Some have cracked windshields, while others suffered damage from hitting other motorists and the guardrails. We have embedded this video at the top of this page.
Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission spokesman Charles Cyrill said the snowplow driver had been with the Ohio Turnpike since December 2015. He was immediately sent for a mandatory alcohol and drug test after the incident, and is now on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.
Cyrill noted that the snow plow operators received extensive training and equipment to perform their duties. This is just an isolated incident involving a single operator, Cyrill added.
“The Ohio Turnpike is one of the safest highways in the nation and is especially known for its ability to meet the demands of the most severe weather events,” Cyrill said.
Everyone affected by the incident is being contacted by the commission through the Ohio State Highway Patrol. They can also file a property damage claim with the Ohio Turnpike.