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 still sketchy, a city fire department spokesman said.
The fire department typically makes reports on industrial accidents, but it hadn't done so as of late Tuesday because the department was not immediately called to the scene, said Gary Cornell, assistant fire chief.
Raymond Wayne, a company spokesman, refused a request to be interviewed Tuesday.
A written statement issued by the company said the matter is being investigated.
What happened
Cornell said 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.
The tanker contained lime slurry, a mixture of lime and water used at the WTI plant, 1250 St. George St., which burns hazardous waste. The slurry is not a hazardous waste, the company's statement said.
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.
The Columbiana County Coroner's office is investigating the death.
Meeting
Cornell said city safety officials will be meeting with WTI to 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, Cornell said.
"I'm not sure we could have made a difference in saving his life," Cornell said of the truck driver.