A driver escaped uninjured early Monday morning when the commercial truck he was driving overturned on Interstate 70 spilling cargo destined for Staples onto the median west of Cambridge.
A portion of the highway near mile post 174 was closed while crews worked to clear the scene following the accident.
The State Highway Patrol reported excessive speed for the road conditions at approximately 2:40 a.m. was a factor in the crash.
According to patrol reports, a 2011 Freightliner driven by Joseph Shoemaker, 65, of Columbus, was traveling east on I-70 when the driver lost control due to traveling too fast for the partially snow-covered roadway.
The truck reportedly traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck a raised median before overturning onto the right side. The impact reportedly caused the trailer to split open, spilling numerous packages onto the ground in the median.
Shoemaker was evaluated for possible injuries by United Ambulance personnel at the scene between Cambridge and New Concord.
The box truck sustained extensive damage and was towed from the highway. The cargo was reportedly collected and stored until it could be loaded onto another truck.
The Ohio Department of Transportation and Cassell Station volunteer firefighters assisted troopers at the scene.
The accident was one of several reported on local roadways Monday morning. The highway patrol also investigated non-injury or minor injury accidents on Happydale and Vocational roads.
Shoemaker was cited for failure to control. No other information was available as of press time Monday.
The accident remained under investigation by the patrol’s Cambridge post.
