MANSFIELD — A tractor-trailer operator died Friday night in a single-vehicle crash on I-71 in Richland County, according to the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The name of the driver was not released on Saturday morning, pending identification and next-of-kin notification.
Troopers received a report of a commercial vehicle crash on the interstate at 11:53 p.m., just north of the Ohio 97 exit.
Troopers arrived on scene and found the involved vehicle off the east side of the roadway, on fire.
A preliminary investigation showed an unknown make and model tractor-trailer was
traveling northbound on I-71, troopers said.
It went off the right side of the roadway, struck the guard rail and light pole. The tractor-trailer continued down a steep embankment and overturned, where it caught fire.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office pronounced the driver dead at the scene.
The Mansfield Post was assisted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Bellville Police
Department, Washington Township Fire and EMS, Troy Township Fire, Mansfield Fire
and EMS and Jefferson Township Fire and EMS.
