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Crane collides with footbridge over 7 in Martins Ferry

T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Metal debris lies on the shoulder of Ohio 7 after a crane struck a footbridge spanning the highway.

MARTINS FERRY — Emergency personnel respond to an accident on Ohio 7 outside Martins Ferry Friday, closing one lane.

Martins Ferry Police Chief John McFarland said a semi truck hauling a crane was heading north on Ohio 7 and struck the footbridge spanning the highway. McFarland said it was a single-vehicle accident, although another vehicle took minor damage by debris from either the crane or the bridge.

He said no injuries were reported. Debris can be observed on the southbound lane.

“It’s wasn’t disabling, but the bridge is closed to all pedestrian traffic until it is checked by an engineer from (the Ohio Department of Transportation). ODOT owns the bridge,” he said, adding that Belmont County Emergency Management Agency personnel were called to assess a potential diesel fuel spill.

McFarland said one of the light poles was struck and an I-beam on the footbridge was twisted from the impact. The driver will likely be cited for an oversized load.

McFarland said the road should be re-opened by the end of the night.

There have been several wrecks on Ohio 7 in the past two days, with two people critically injured Thursday evening.

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