Troopers from the Bowling Green Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol are investigating an injury crash involving two semi-trucks on Interstate 75 near the Eagleville Road exit south of Bowling Green, near North Baltimore.
The crash occurred this morning around 4:23, when a semi-tractor trailer operated by Jeffrey A. Smothers, 61, of Toledo, reportedly rear ended a semi-tractor trailer combination operated by Samson Samson, 68, of Kirkland, Quebec.
Both commercial vehicles were in the right lane when the crash occurred.
Smothers reportedly became distracted and rear-ended Samson’s vehicle, according to the state patrol. After impact, Smothers’ vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and came to rest in the ditch. Samson’s vehicle ran off the right side of the roadway and came to rest on the shoulder.
Smothers was not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash and he was transported to Blanchard Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Samson was wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash and was not injured.
Smothers’ vehicle suffered heavy front end damage and the trailer of Samson’s vehicle had heavy rear end damage. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the North Baltimore Police Department, the North Baltimore Fire Department, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Wright Tire & Auto, and Dick’s Towing.
Smothers was cited for failing to maintain assured cleared distance, distracted driving, and failure to wear a safety belt.
ODOT will have traffic reduced to one lane while the commercial vehicles are removed from the scene.
