Latest On Zanesville Semi Accident

The Zanesville Police Department has released more information regarding a tractor trailer that was on fire on Interstate 70 Sunday morning.

Zanesville Police said around 8 a.m. the tractor trailer was traveling west on Interstate 70 when it’s believed to have suffered a mechanical failure.

A witness traveling next to the semi said the vehicle appeared to have been on fire while traveling. Zanesville Police said the semi then went off the right side of the road and struck a guardrail. It continued on striking a concrete wall over 5th Street.

Police believe the vehicle had ruptured its fuel tanks and an explosion occurred. The semi then crossed both lanes of traffic and struck the median wall. The truck came to rest just prior to the Muskingum River overpass.

Authorities said the semi driver escaped the vehicle with only minor injures and refused treatment at the scene.

The trailer contained unprocessed advertising mail enroute to the United States Postal Service Processing Center in Columbus.

Fuel and oil was spilled on the roadway along with some leaking into the Muskingum River. Clean up was handled by the Muskingum County Emergency Management Agency, the Zanesville Fire Department, Ohio Department of Transportation, Zemba Construction and Clever’s Towing.

Also assisting was the Ohio State Highway Patrol. I-70 westbound was closed from Underwood St to State St and traffic was rerouted through the city during the closure. The incident is still under investigation.