OSHP identifies victims in crash on Ohio Turnpike

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A fatal multivehicle crash Friday afternoon on the Ohio Turnpike still is under investigation, Ohio State Highway Patrol authorities say.

Troopers responded to a six-vehicle crash on Interstate 76 near milepost 223, near the Kirk Road overpass in the township, about 2:45 p.m. The trailer of a commercial truck was on fire with another vehicle trapped underneath it. Four other vehicles were either partially in the left or right lanes, according to a news release provided by Sgt. David Francway of the patrol’s Hiram post.

Stacy Gardner, 44 of Massillon was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a rear-seat passenger of the vehicle trapped underneath the trailer, the patrol said.

Michael Gardner, 45, of Massillon, was the driver of the trapped vehicle. He was taken by helicopter to Cleveland Metro Health Medical Center and was listed in serious condition late Saturday. Two minor children, traveling with the Gardners, were treated and released for minor injuries.

Elizabeth Barber, 61, of Philadelphia and three additional occupants – two of them minors – were taken to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for minor injuries. Their names were unavailable.

Ruth Woods, 27, of Warren was another driver transported to an unidentified hospital with possible serious injuries.

Rahmatkarn Dhillon, 23, of British Columbia, Canada, was the driver of the commercial truck. He and two other drivers, Linda Gilboy of New Kensington, Pa., and Christopher Ksepka of Third Lake, Ill., suffered no injuries.

The patrol reported all vehicles involved were traveling westbound on the turnpike. Five of those vehicles slowed down for a lane closure but the commercial truck apparently failed to stop and proceeded down the middle of both lanes striking the vehicles before coming to rest partially in the right lane, the patrol said. The vehicle trapped underneath the truck caught fire, which spread to the trailer.

Assisting at the scene were Austintown Fire Department, Lane Life EMS and Metro Life Flight. The Ohio Turnpike Infrastructure Commission and its maintenance workers also were on the scene.

The accident closed all westbound lanes for more than eight hours.