Fatal crash on new I-80 lane

Austintown Fire Chief Andrew Frost Jr. has just seen his worst fears about new construction on Interstate 80 become reality. His fire company was at the scene this evening of a fatal accident in the eastbound lanes of I-80 just east of the Meander Bridge.

Frost said one person is dead and there are "multiple other injuries" from the crash, involving two pickup trucks and a car. At least one person was taken from the scene by helicopter, he said.

"They just opened that lane Monday night and we already have a fatality," Frost said. "I was worried about that [new construction] from the beginning."

He said he feared the way the road narrows would cause problems. His fire trucks and other emergency vehicles had trouble reaching the scene because of the traffic, he said.

The road will be closed until a guardrail is repaired. Traffic is detoured through Austintown, Frost said.

The Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating. The patrol said the crash occurred around 4:20 p.m. No other details are available yet from the patrol.

Frost said his fire company was at the scene about three hours. He plans to meet with construction officials Friday morning to see if any other improvements can be made to the new highway.