GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio — Multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders were at the scene after a fatal vehicle crash involving a semi and a van in Newbury Township on Monday.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, troopers received a call just after 11 a.m. about a serious injury crash on SR 44 near Pekin Road. Troopers arrived on scene and located a 2003 Ford Econoline Van and a commercial tractor with a flatbed trailer attached, both with severe front-end damage from an apparent head-on crash.
OSHP Lt. Larry Jones tells 3News that the van involved was a Cuyahoga County Board of Disabilities vehicle, occupied by a driver and six passengers. The driver and four of the passengers died as a result of the crash. Two of the passengers have been hospitalized with serious injuries.
The only occupant of the semi truck was the driver, who was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Jones says initial investigation shows that the van was heading northbound on SR 44 and went left of center, striking the semi truck that was headed south on 44.
Motorists were advised to use an alternate route and avoid the area to allow emergency crews to work. Around 3:30 p.m., the Ohio Department of Transportation announced that SR 44 had reopened.
This is a developing story. Stay with 3News for more details as they become available.
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