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Five injured in fiery crash

I-70 westbound closed near Morristown

MORRISTOWN — A mechanical or electrical problem may be to blame for a fiery crash that injured five people.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. James Faunda said the car was traveling east on Interstate 70 shortly before 10 a.m. today when the crash occurred at about the 209 mile marker. Occupants told Faunda the car began to accelerate for an unknown reason and reached a speed of about 90 mph before the driver lost control.

Faunda said the vehicle rolled several times and caught fire as it came to rest in the median. Bystanders pulled the driver and passengers from the vehicle, Faunda said, preventing them from “burning to death.”

One person was critically injured with severe burns to their lower body, throat and lungs. That individual was transported by a Stat MedEvac helicopter to a Pittsburgh hospital. The remaining four occupants were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

Cumberland Trail Fire District responded with assistance from the Belmont, Bethesda and Lafferty volunteer fire departments. Faunda said additional information would be available later today.

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