Clyde man injured in fatal turnpike crash Tuesday

From local and wire reports

FREMONT — An Ohio Turnpike maintenance worker was killed and two others seriously injured Tuesday morning — including a Clyde man — when a wayward tractor-trailer crashed into a work area in the westbound lanes, according to a report from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

John Fletcher, 53, of Perrysburg, an assistant foreman assigned to the turnpike’s Elmore maintenance base, was killed in the crash.

Other maintenance employees were Anthony J. Stout, 24, Clyde, and James Roudebush, 55, Millbury. The three road maintenance workers were outside their vehicles at the time of the accident.

Fletcher was pronounced dead at the scene, while Stout and Roudebush were flown to Toledo Medical College of Ohio with serious injuries.

The semi driver also was seriously injured.

Edward Mills, 53, Doylestown, was flown to Toledo St. Vincent Hospital.

The tractor-trailer was hauling corrosive liquid, but there was not spill as a result of the accident, according to the OSP report. The crash remains under investigation.

The turnpike’s westbound side was shut down for nearly six hours after the 10:30 a.m. crash, which occurred at a bridge west of the State Rt. 53 interchange where turnpike employees were repairing the bridge’s deck. Two lanes were reopened at about 4:10 p.m.

The work zone had closed the right and center lanes, leaving just the left lane open, turnpike officials said.

Construction signs included a 50-mph speed limit through the area.

All westbound lanes remained closed for nearly 6 hours after the 10:30 a.m. crash, with traffic forced off at the State Rt. 53 interchange. At 4:10 p.m. the left and center lanes reopened past the crash scene.

Turnpike officials said they had posted message signs as far east as the Cleveland area warning motorists about the detour ahead. State Rt. 2 is a better alternate route for traffic exiting the turnpike at the U.S. 250 or State Rt. 4 interchanges in the Sandusky area.