Semi-tanker cleared, U.S. 68 South ramp open

UPDATE @ 11:08 p.m.: The ramp to U.S. 68 from state Route 334 is reopening. The milk was off-loaded the crashed tanker and transferred into another tanker brought to the scene.

The wrecked semi-tranker is being towed from the scene.

UPDATE @ 7:55 p.m.: The ramp from state Route 334 to U.S. 68 South will remain closed for up to five hours as a tow company uses a pumper truck to off-load approximately 9,000 gallons of milk from a semi-tanker that crashed on the ramp.

The trucker, who was not injured and was able to get out of the wrecked cab on his own, will be cited for failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle, said Sgt. Richard Dixon, Ohio Highway Patrol post at Springfield.

Dixon said the trucker was driving too fast when he sent the semi-tanker up on two wheels and over a guardrail as it rounded the corner from 334 to the ramp on 68.

UPDATE @ 6:30 p.m.: A pumper truck is being brought in to empty the tanker of its payload, which is several thousand gallons of milk. The ramp from state Route 334 to U.S. 68 South will remain closed for some time.

The tanker is leaking, a tow truck operator tells us, but the leak is not believed serious.

The driver of the semi-tanker is speaking with Ohio Highway Patrol troopers, but no other information has been made available.

FIRST REPORT

An overturned semitrailer full of milk has forced the shut down of the on-ramp from state Route 334 to U.S. 68 South.

According to the Ohio Highway Patrol post in Springfield, the ramp is closed until further notice and traffic is being redirected onto River Road.

There are no injuries from the accident, according to a dispatcher at the patrol post.

The trailer has 47,000 pounds of milk in it and it is leaking, the dispatcher said he’s been told, and that milk probably will have to be unloaded before the semitrailer can be righted.

The accident was reported just after 5 p.m.

We have a crew near the scene and we’ll update this report as we get information.