METRO DIGEST || Lightning strikes oil well

Lightning strike blows top off oil well

BERLIN CENTER

Firefighters were called to fight a blaze at an oil well about 5 p.m. Friday on private property in the 14000 block of Leffingwell Road.

Berlin Fire Chief Richard Peppel said lightning struck the tank and blew the top off, according to the Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV.

Dana Meyers said she heard an unusual rumbling noise immediately after the sound of a nearby lightning strike. She could see a plume of black smoke coming from the well.

The contents of the tank were on fire, but crews extinguished it with water and foam.

No injuries were reported. Deerfield, Damascus and Ellsworth fire departments assisted Berlin firefighters.

Deputy’s house burns

NEWTON falls

Ten fire departments were dispatched to a house fire on West River Road at 5:40 p.m. Saturday, according to the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Department.

The house belongs to one of its deputies. It remained unclear late Saturday whether the house was a total loss.

Fire departments from Warren, Bristol, Greene, Mesopotamia, Newton Falls and several others fought the blaze for nearly five hours Saturday, leaving the scene about 10 p.m.

Though there is some speculation that lightning caused the fire, an investigation is underway to determine the cause, said Derek Luke, deputy superintendent of the Trumbull County 911 Center.

Semi truck gets stuck in Hubbard

HUBBARD

Southbound traffic on U.S. Route 62 slowed for a couple of hours about 9 a.m. Friday after a semi truck carrying a large load got stuck under an Interstate 80 overpass.

Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol say the truck was carrying an oversize load that was higher than the 14-feet-10-inch maximum, according to the Vindicator’s broadcast partner, 21 WFMJ-TV.

Southbound traffic on Route 62 was down to one lane until the truck could be removed by letting air out of its tires.

No one was injured.