Hazmat cleans site of truck wreck

A bar and nearby homes were evacuated.
SOUTHINGTON -- The Trumbull County Hazmat team was on the scene of an accident late Friday, cleaning up fluid that leaked from a tractor-trailer truck carrying sulfuric acid.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the truck was traveling along U.S. Route 422 near state Route 305 about 7:45 p.m. when it crashed into a car and then hit a house on the north side of 422, just west of 305.
An OSP spokeswoman said fluid was leaking from the truck following the accident, but authorities could not immediately determine whether it was the acid.
Road closed
Route 422 was closed in both directions at the accident scene. Westbound traffic was being detoured onto state Route 305. The Southington and Garrettsville fire departments were on the scene along with the OSP and hazmat team. No injuries were reported.
The truck driver, Steve Deaskin of Cleveland, said he was carrying about 24 drums of sulfuric acid weighing about 17,000 pounds, which he had picked up in Cartaret, N.J., and was to deliver to Twinsburg.
He said he was in the left lane and the car was in the right lane, when the driver of the car tried to make a left turn in front of him. He said both vehicles were westbound on 422. Deaskin was hauling for Allpro Trucking, which is based on the west side of Cleveland.
"Something's leaking. I have no idea what it is because we haven't been inside," said Capt. Gary Smith of the Southington Fire Department as Hazmat team members dressed in protective suits were preparing to enter the truck just before 11 p.m.
Authorities closed the Gables bar and evacuated nearby homes after the accident. An Ohio State Highway Patrol motor carrier enforcement unit was at the scene.