EAST LIVERPOOL Driver found in truck's tanker dies

A WTI plant employee tried to rescue the driver.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Authorities are probing the death of a truck driver found in a tanker truck that was delivering materials to Von Roll Waste Technologies Industries.
Details about the apparent accident are sketchy, a city fire department spokesman said this morning.
The fire department typically makes reports on industrial accidents but hadn't done so as of deadline because the department was not immediately called to the scene, Gary Cornell, assistant fire chief, said today.
Raymond Wayne, a company spokesman, refused a request to be interviewed today, saying he would provide a written statement. The statement was not immediately provided.
What happened
The event unfolded about 2 p.m. Monday when the driver of a tanker truck was discovered at the bottom of the tanker portion of the vehicle, Cornell said.
The tanker contained lime slurry, a mixture of lime and water used at the WTI plant, 1250 St. George St., which burns hazardous waste.
It's unclear how the driver, whose identity hasn't been verified by officials, ended up inside the tanker.
An unidentified WTI employee entered the tanker to bring the driver out. The rescuer injured his eyes doing so. He was treated at East Liverpool City Hospital.
Cornell said WTI officials said the driver was alive when pulled from the tank. He was taken to city hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A Columbiana County coroner's office spokeswoman said the death is being investigated.
Meeting
Cornell said city safety officials will be meeting with WTI. The officials will emphasize that city authorities should be notified immediately when industrial accidents occur.
WTI officials have told city authorities that the lack of immediate notification was an oversight.
"I'm not sure we could have made a difference in saving his life," Cornell said of the truck driver.