Driver Dies When Pickup & Semi Crash

MADISON COUNTY, Ohio—One person was killed and another was injured in a two-vehicle crash late Wednesday.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.

The West Jefferson post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol continued to investigate a two-vehicle fatal crash that occurred at 10:27 p.m.

The crash occurred on U.S. Route 42 at mile marker 23, just south of Converse Huff Road in northeastern Madison County.

The crash involved a commercial vehicle and a pickup truck.

The vehicles involved were a white 2008 Chevy Silverado 2500 and a 2007 Kenworth tractor-trailer owned by Warner Trucking Co.

Both vehicles sustained heavy damage, according to OSP.

The commercial trailer was not loaded at the time of the crash.

Investigation of the scene showed the commercial vehicle was southbound on U.S. 42 The pickup truck was northbound on U.S. 42. As the pickup and commercial outfit passed by each other, an extremely strong wind gust struck the commercial outfit, tipping it over onto the pickup truck.

The trailer of the commercial outfit struck the front driver’s side of the pickup.

The commercial vehicle continued onto its side and slid partially off the east side of the roadway.

The pickup came to rest off the east side of the roadway.

Stephen M. Gruenbaum, 35, the driver of the pickup, was killed instantly, OSP said.

Gruenbaum was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash,

The driver of the commercial vehicle was Jeremy A. Harpst.

He received minor injuries as a result of the commercial vehicle flipping onto its side.

The commercial vehicle lost approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel.

Ohio EPA responded to the scene and arranged for cleanup of the fuel spill.

Officers of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Madison County sheriff’s Department and the Pleasant Valley Fire Department responded and were on the scene.

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