WEATHERSurviving workers cling to life after Turnpike wreck
Jan 26
2012
A young turnpike worker from Clyde is clinging to life after a semi-truck plowed into him and other employees Tuesday morning on the Ohio Turnpike.
Anthony Stout, 24, was flown by helicopter from the scene to the University of Toledo Medical Center, where his condition was not available Wednesday night.
The collision killed turnpike assistant foreman Forest John Fletcher, 53, of Perrysburg.
Fletcher and Stout were part of a four-man crew filling cracks on a turnpike bridge when at about 10:30 a.m. the semi veered into their work zone.
Motorists later told troopers the semi had been swerving for a few miles prior to the collision.
The semi’s driver, Edward Mills, 53, of Doylestown, left the Seville area earlier that morning and racked up about 115 miles before the crash, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers said.
A watchman in the Turnpike work crew actually saw Mills’ rig coming, so he sounded an airhorn to alert the other workers, Highway Patrol Lt. Monte Morgan said.
But it gave the crew little notice.
Motorists behind the semi told troopers they saw the workers take off running as the semi tore into their work zone. The rig smashed into three Turnpike trucks and a tar kettle.
Fletcher was pronounced dead at the scene while Stout and coworker James Roudebush, 55, of Millbury, sustained serious injuries.
A fourth worker, Nathan Overmyer, of Elmore, escaped unharmed. Roudebush and Mills were flown by helicopter to Toledo hospitals.
John Puttick, 42, who lives next to the Stouts’ home in Clyde, said friends and family members remain optimistic he’ll recover.
“He’s a tough kid and a heck of a worker,” Puttick said. “I’ve been telling everybody that if anybody is going to survive something like that, it’s going to be Tony.”
Read additional follow up details on this crash in Thursday's Register.
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10:45 AM
Woody Hayes says
Outofmoney:
What kind of trucks did your family drive, Tonka trucks? When you get picked to take a random test, you only have an hour to get there, hardly enough time to go out and buy " clean urine ". Trouble is if you buy it, how are you going to use it, you have to dump your pockets before you go into the john.
08:49 AM
har75ly1 says
@ FST Truck drivers are drug tested more often for your information...And you say there not smart enough to get a real job? What do you do for a living? Are you living off the government? Truck drivers make the world go round..Just a example we can starve New York city in one day if we would stop rolling our trucks...When you go to the grocery store how do you think the product got there? Your ignorant for saying that....
05:56 AM
mmbwiggles says
Sniper, your unqualified comment directly reflects your narrow mind and glaring ignorance!
11:38 PM
Gardenman says
I like so many of you have gone thru these construction and road repair operations. I really feel for the workers. They are working within a few feet of cars and trucks going 55 mph or more. I find it terrible that drivers seem so irritated they have to slow down for these areas. I think vehicles are allowed to go to fast in past these workers. I think like in this case these are people with families and its just not right they should be put in dangerous situations like this.
Roads have to be repaired and it has to happen in this situations like this but we need laws to get vehicles to slow down and law enforcement needs to be diligient in ticketing those who go over the speed,
10:32 PM
SimpleEnough says
One man is dead and 3 are injured, (may the lord protect them) and many folks on here offer their "highly" thought out opinions on just what to do to keep it from happening again, and that is excatly why we have legislatures voting in new stupid laws every year.
10:26 PM
Blacktigress says
I do hope these people heal quickly.
And I must say, those who posted derogatory statements against truck drivers have a real problem; you think too highly of yourselves.
I've known many truck drivers, and most are carring people who work hard. Sure, there are bad ones, just like every proffession has. But its obvious that those with such a prejudiced mind to post such stupid statements here are the ones who should be feared while driving. Bunch of loosers who think your so much better than others, your disgusting.
09:41 PM
outofmoney says
A member of my family drove semis. He no longer drives, he retired. But, any driver knows how easy it is and cheap it is to buy clean urine. And there's always two sets of books. One that no one but the employer ever sees. Many drivers have to deliver their loads at a certain time and place regardless of weather or road construction, so sleeping is out of the question sometimes. And cell phones should be banned by all drivers, not just truck drivers. I see many drivers on cell phones. Actually most drivers, of any vehicle, can be seen on their cell while behind the wheel. I don't know what happened to the truck driver, but even if he was drowsey, the rumble strips should have jolted him awake. My prayers are with the young injured man and his family.
08:24 PM
danny r. says
I've been the proud owner of a CDL for over 20 yrs . Anyone who doesn't have one or who has never had one has not a clue as to how the random tests work. No one with years of driving is looking to harm anyone...just to make their trip safley without one of the NORMAL drivers on the road pulling into them.
08:07 PM
NoWay says
I have no idea why this truck driver went off course as bad as he did, but neither does anyone else commenting on this article. However, the negative assumptions about why he did are very irritating. I have never had a CDL, but I have worked in shipping for about 20 years. Truck drivers have pissed me off many, many times over things they've done, and as part of my job, I bitch about them a lot! BUT, I have never met a truck driver who hits the road wanting to hurt someone. I highly doubt he was even drunk or on drugs, especially since he has that corrosive placard on the bank of that tanker he was hauling. He has at least a Haz Mat license, which means he's getting drug tested more than your regular truck driver. Most of these guys CAN drive. That's why they do it. For everyone who bites their nails driving their little Toyota in the snow, imagine driving what they're driving!!! They do it every day without a problem.
The guy probably had some type of medical problem strike him, which could happen out of nowhere to every one of us sitting here commenting on this story, at any time. If HE recovers, he will have to live with what happened too. I will bet he won't be feeling good about it. My thoughts are with the families, and the truck driver.
08:04 PM
danny r. says
I'm certain everyone agrees that random testing for every driver on the road should be in place in our great state so every driver returns home safely? Everyone but me right?
07:47 PM
Darkhorse says
Motorists said the truck was swerving for several miles before the accident. How sad no one took to their cell phones and didn't call the trucker into the highway patrol. I had heard the turnpike people want to increase the speed limit. Trucks used to go 55 mph.
07:03 PM
Restless1 says
If you see a swerving truck, call 911, the driver is falling asleep!
06:21 PM
FST says
Moderators have removed this comment because it contained libelous or defamatory statements. Discussion Guidelines06:13 PM
frizzlefrap says
hang in there kid, we're pullin' for ya ....... you can do it!
05:49 PM
bp1964 says
this is why there are slow workers ahead signs! that's why it is so important to SLOW DOWN!! everyone in a hurry all the time! was this driver on his cell phone? said he was swerving a few miles before? i pray everyone recovers & prayers to the family who lost a husband, dad., brother!!
05:16 PM
DriaDria26 says
My prayers go out to Mr. Stout's family! May God give him the strenght to return home to his family
05:09 PM
Unassumer says
May be too many tired or too old to drive semi-drivers on the road.
04:48 PM
OMG.LOL.WT_ says
Roads are out dated for the volume of traffic.
On a lighter note: A guy walks into a truck terminal to talk to dispatcher and says "I've got half a mind to be a truck driver." Dispatcher says: "That's all you need. You're hired."
04:44 PM
Kottage Kat says
Heartfelt prayers for the families and friends of these 2 men.
03:59 PM
gene44870 says
I just hope and Pray that everyone recovers fully , and that it is a bad way of saying this . But we need to do something about the way truckers run when they arent 100% , And something tells me that he wasnt even 20% or this would not have happened . The state also needs to place constuction signs about 5 miles from the work being done to allow for planty of notice to all that there is a danger area and that they need to pay attention .
I am not saying that drivers dont need to be paying attention when theres not road work being done cause you always need to pay attention not to mention just cause the speed limet says 70 dont mean you have to go that fast ..
I just hope everyone gets a wake up call and learns from this , I know as a former truck driver I can tell yea that everything I have said today I have said for as many years as I can remember .