Driver injured in U-Haul fire that shut down I-70

A U-Haul carrying floor cleaner burned up and the driver was injured after a crash Monday morning that shut down Interstate 70 West.

The 7:30 a.m. crash shut down the interstate at I-675 for about four hours, according to a release from the Ohio Highway Patrol Springfield Post..

Zachary L. Perry, 18, of Zanesville, was driving the 2007 GMC U-Haul westbound on I-70 when he attempted to exit onto I-675 and lost control, striking an impact attenuator, according to the release.

The truck, which was hauling 474 Mastic Remover Solution, caught fire upon impact, according to the release.

Perry suffered minor injuries and was taken to the SOIN Medical Center by Mad River Twp. medics.

Jacob King, Bethel Twp. fire chief, said the fire quickly spread when chemicals in the truck ignited.

"The ... chemicals were very flammable," King said. "We treated it like a fuel fire and tried to extinguish it that way."

Firefighters from Fairborn and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base sprayed foam to douse the chemicals and put out the fire.

A Hazmat team was called to assist and the Ohio Fire Marshal's office was notified.

OHP was assisted by the Clark County Sheriff's Office, Bethel and Mad River townships and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The crash is still under investigation.

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