First Posted: 1/19/2015
BEAVERDAM —An Ada man died after his car collided with a tractor-trailer on Hancock Road in an accident that spilled about 75 gallons of deisel on the roadway.
At about 8:30 a.m. Monday, Paul E. Risner, 76, of Ada, was traveling south on Hancock Road while the tractor-trailer, driven by Kendall L. Weaver, 22, of Wooster, was traveling west on U.S. Route 30.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Risner failed to stop at a stop sign at the intersection. Risner traveled onto U.S. 30 where he was struck on the driver’s side of his 2004 Toyota Camry.
The tractor-trailer crossed the median and both lanes of U.S. 30 eastbound and came to rest in a ditch. Risner drove off the right side of U.S. 30 westbound and struck the right-of-way fence.
Officials said Risner, who was wearing his seat belt, died at the scene. Weaver was not injured, he was traveling at 65 mph, the posted speed limit for tractor-trailers on the route.
Sgt. Matthew Dyer with the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said it is possible Risner’s vision could have been obstructed by the sun rising over the treetops.
According to Highway Patrol officials, about seventy five gallons of diesel fuel was spilled from the tractor-trailer near the roadway. Russ Decker, director of the Allen County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said they were notified of the fuel and came to assist the trucking company, Interdine/Transvac, with the cleanup.
Decker said the trucking company has 30 days to give a follow-up report to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regarding the cleanup.
The tractor-trailer was carrying silico manganese, but no cargo was released.
