Multiple Vehicle Accident on I-70 West

Zanesville – The Zanesville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a multiple vehicle injury crash on Interstate 70 westbound .

It happened at Milepost 144 in Hopewell Township just before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Troopers responded to the scene which involved three commercial vehicles and two pick up trucks.

Authorities said westbound traffic on Interstate 70 was shut down from a previous crash. A 2006 Kenworth semi, driven by James M. Taggart, 51, of Eldred Pennsylvania, was westbound
on I-70 and struck the rear of a 2023 Mack, driven by Eugeniu Sidorcenco,38, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Sidorcenco’s vehicle was pushed into a Dodge Ram pick-up driven by
Jennifer Paisley, 43, of Tippecanoe, Ohio.

Paisley’s Vehicle was pushed into a vehicle that was disabled along I-70. Paisley’s vehicle then overturned onto its side. A 2024 Peterbilt Semi, driven by Wayla Brown Williams,41 of Laveen, Arizona was struck by the load from Taggart’s vehicle. Taggart’s semi was hauling 2- 20,0000 lb steel coils.

I-70 Westbound remained closed until 2:00 pm Wednesday.

Taggart was transported to Genesis in Zanesville with minor injuries.  Paisley was treated on scene by EMS personnel. No other injuries were reported.

Taggart was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance.