Truck carrying hazardous waste from Ohio train derailment site crashes

A truck carrying hazardous waste collected from last year’s train derailment site in East Palestine, Ohio, crashed Jan. 2 in Geauga County, according to a report from Cleveland.com.

According to a news release from the Russel Township Fire Department, 4 to 5 gallons of Class 9 hazardous waste was spilled from the tanker truck. A spokesperson for the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tells WJW Channel 8 the material mostly was contaminated rainwater.

The truck was headed to an environmental site in Northwest Ohio for disposal, WJW reports.

RELATED: EPA orders Norfolk Southern to conduct additional cleanup following Ohio train derailment

The crash was reported at 5:17 a.m. at the intersection of Chagrin Mills and Chillicothe roads. The tanker was found off the roadway on its side, and had hit a utility pole and several power lines. A section of Chillicothe Road was closed for several hours during cleanup.

Cleveland.com reports the driver of the truck was taken to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, but the state of his condition is unknown.

The Chagrin Southeast Regional Hazmat team was called to the scene because diesel fuel spilled from the truck. The Ohio EPA, Ohio Public Utilities Commission, State Highway Patrol, Valley Enforcement Group Accident Investigation Unit, Norfolk Southern and utility companies also responded.