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Two semi trucks collide on Interstate 470

BELLAIRE — Traffic was backed up for miles on Interstate 470 Wednesday following a collision between two tractor-trailers in the westbound lanes near milepost 6.

“We got the call at 10:29 a.m.,” Lt. Maurice Waddell of the St. Clairsville post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. “There was two tractor-trailers westbound. … One of the trucks had some engine trouble, causing the truck to stall. As (the driver) got it started, he was in the right lane, another truck struck him in the rear. … As soon as he started and got ready to take off is when he was struck.”

Waddell said minor injuries were reported by the driver of the at-fault vehicle with no injuries reported by the other driver. No additional crashes occurred as a result.

“Traffic was backed up, and it’s currently down to one lane,” Waddell said late Wednesday afternoon.

The Ohio Department of Transportation had the site marked off from traffic.

“We were able to open it up pretty quickly, open it up to at least one lane to keep traffic moving,” Waddell said.

Waddell added that some diesel fuel was spilled from one truck’s fuel tanks and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was on scene.

“They’re doing cleanup on that as well,” he said.

He said the driver of the truck that was struck is Oliver Hendrick, 48, of Monterey, Virginia. Waddell said Christian Dabbs, 33, of Sistersville, West Virginia, was driver the at-fault truck and was cited for failure to assure clear distance ahead.

“He has minor injuries to his arms,” Waddell said. “The injuries could have been a lot worse. To come out of that crash with just minor injuries, he was lucky.”

Waddell added that the patrol’s motor carrier enforcement inspectors have examined both trucks to determine if any mechanical error led to the crash.

“They’re still in the process of investigating that,” he said.

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