Fatal accident due to weather

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The weather was to blame for a fatal accident on I-70.

Zanesville Police Chief Tony Coury said shortly after 2 a.m. this morning they were called to the scene of an accident in the westbound lanes of I-70 between the 6th Street on-ramp and the Maple Ave exit. Chief Coury said the 31-year-old driver of a tractor-trailer from San Antonio was killed when he lost control of his vehicle when crossing the icy bridge over the Muskingum River.

“When his tractor-trailer entered the bridge area he lost control, struck the right side of the bridge and then jackknifed, traveled back across the lanes hitting the center pier,” said Chief Coury.

Chief Coury said the driver died at the scene and his passenger was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He also said the weather was a factor in other accidents around the city and on I-70 including one near Underwood Street involving 11 vehicles. Chief Coury said it’s important to slow down during bad weather conditions.

“Of course we need you to slow down,” said Chief Coury. “We need you to leave home a little earlier. Take the time to get there and do it at a safe speed.”

Chief Coury said it’s also important that people take the time to clean off their cars and make sure they can see out of them properly before getting on the road during winter weather.