ERIE COUNTY — Three people died Sunday during two accidents on the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County, according to the Milan Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The first crash occurred at approximately 6:41 a.m. and the second at about 7:34 a.m., east of the Frailey Road overpass, according to troopers.
A preliminary investigation showed the first crash occurred when an eastbound International 4300 truck, driven by Anthony Jenson, 31, Indianapolis, Ind., drove off the road and struck a tow truck that was stopped on the shoulder with its emergency lights activated.
Jenson suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital. His passenger, Dantrail Reese, 32, also of Indianapolis, died at the scene, troopers said.
The second crash occurred in the traffic backup from the first crash, according to troopers, who said a Toyota Sienna struck a Peterbilt 389 tractor-tanker combination, operated by Jesse Williams, 43, of Sparta, Wisc., in the rear.
The Toyota Sienna was driven by Hongwei Wang, 56, of Chicago, Ill.
Wang and her passenger, Zhangli Liu, 56, both died at the scene.
Williams was uninjured in the second crash, according to troopers.
The tow truck driver was outside of the vehicle when the first crash occurred and was not injured. The road was closed for three hours while the scenes were cleared.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Florence Township Fire Department; Berlin Township Fire Department; LifeCare EMS, Metro Life Flight; Erie County Coroner’s Office; Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission; and Interstate Towing & Transport Specialist.
Both crashes remain under investigation, according to the patrol.
It was the second and third fatal accidents Sunday during the Labor Day Weekend in Erie County handled by the OSHP.
A 34-year-old Wakeman woman died in a one-vehicle crash early Sunday morning in Erie County, according to the Sandusky Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.