Dense Fog — Paulding, Ohio

2013-02-05 · Paulding, Ohio

Event narrative

A total of 14 vehicles were involved in a morning pile-up on US-24 near County Road 87 in Paulding County. Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers reported that a northbound SUV on County Road 87 failed to yield at the US-24 intersection. The vehicle, driven by a 28 year old female, was struck by a tanker truck carrying ethanol fuel. The tanker ruptured with approximately 1,500 gallons of the fuel leaking into the median. Dense fog blanketed the area with the troopers reporting visibilities of around 100 feet. The accident then lead to further vehicles becoming involved as drivers tried to avoid the accident. A total of 11 commercial vehicles (many being semi-trailers), two passenger cars and a pickup hauling excavating equipment were involved. Nine other people were injured in the pile-up, all suffering non-life-threatening injuries. No specifics were available on ages or injuries. The fog lifted around 9 AM local time.

Wider weather episode

Clear skies and a fresh snow pack allowed for the formation of fog across northwestern Ohio. Pockets of dense fog occurred with some locations reporting near zero visibilities. The fog played a factor in a 14 vehicle pile up on U.S. 24 in Paulding county when a SUV pulled out in front of a tanker carrying ethanol fuel. The driver of the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident resulted in 12 additional vehicles becoming involved in the scene as well as the rupture and release of 1,500 gallons of ethanol fuel into the median of U.S. 24. The highway was closed for several hours due to the clean up of both vehicles and the spilled fuel. Nine non-life-threatening injuries also resulted from the accident.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 430416. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.