CENTERBURG — A 32-year-old New Albany man was killed south of Centerburg on Friday afternoon when he drove left of center on U.S. 36 into the path of a tractor-trailer truck, striking it head-on.
Matthew Knecht was ejected on impact from the 2003 Ford Expedition he was driving, and pronounced dead at the scene by a representative of the Knox County Coroner’s Office.
The semi was driven by 39-year-old Michael Peters of Centerburg. There was a 6-year-old passenger in the truck, who was ejected on impact, whose name was not released. Both were seriously injured.
Peters was flown by MedFlight to the Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, where he remains hospitalized this morning. He is listed in fair condition, according to a hospital administrator.
The child was flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. Her condition at this time is unknown.
The Central Ohio Joint Fire District responded to the accident around 4:40 p.m., and began treatment of the child and extrication procedures to free Peters from the wreckage.
COJFD Lt. David Miller said it took about 20 minutes to free Peters. Paramedics began treating him as firefighters worked to remove the roof of the cab.
Knox County Emergency Management officials were dispatched to the scene because two tanks, one on each side of the tractor-trailer and each carrying 75 gallons of diesel fuel, were heavily damaged.
Deputy EMA Director Matt Sturgeon coordinated efforts with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to contain the spill, which he said threatened but did not contaminate a creek 75 yards from the diesel fuel.
COJFD and mutual aid fire departments put absorbent products on the road to contain most of the fuel.
EMA Director Brian Hess said the Ohio EPA contacted a certified hazardous materials cleanup agency from Lancaster, which began cleanup procedures once the vehicles were removed from the scene. Hess said the cleanup was completed Saturday.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol has requested anyone who witnessed the crash to contact its office. The crash remains under investigation.
