MORRISTOWN — Two people with minor injuries were transported to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital following a crash involving four commercial vehicles near Morristown.

The accident resulted in Interstate 70 being completely closed around mile marker 212 for a few hours while the vehicles were removed from the scene. The highway has since reopened.

The crash happened at 3:17 a.m. on I-70 east. Cumberland Trail Fire District arrived on the scene first with Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers from the St. Clairsville Post following at 3:22 a.m. Other agencies that assisted in the crash cleanup were the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Department of Transportation, Bill’s Towing, A-1 Braden’s Towing and Belmont County Emergency Management Agency.

According to the OSHP, the crash took place as a tractor-trailer that was traveling east on I-70 failed to maintain control and overturned into the median.

Upon overturning, the trailer blocked the left eastbound lane, and two additional semi trucks that were traveling east on I-70 pulled off onto the south shoulder of the highway, planning to get out to help the driver whose truck had overturned. A fourth commercial driver saw the wreck ahead and moved to the left lane, according to the patrol.

Upon moving to the left lane, the fourth vehicle struck the trailer that was overturned in that lane. That tractor-trailer glanced off of the overturned trailer upon impact and struck the two tractor-trailers that were parked on the shoulder.

The OSHP declined to release any names of drivers or companies involved in the crash late Thursday morning because the crash report had not been completed.

The investigation is still pending, and the OSHP expects to release further information Friday.

Original report

Interstate 70 East near Morristown is completely closed and the left lane of Interstate 70 is also closed due to a crash reportedly involving three tractor trailers, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Crews are on the scene and cleaning up the site now. Traffic is being diverted to U.S. 40.

Return to timesleaderonline.com later for more on this developing story.