1 dead, 2 injured in Shelby County crash

BOTKINS, Ohio (WDTN) - One person is dead and two were injured in accident on Interstate 75 Tuesday morning. A mini van and two tractor-trailers collided in the southbound lanes near Botkins in Shelby County.

A northbound Chevrolet Astro being driven by Bret Woods, 46, of Toledo, lost control and crossed the median into the southbound lanes, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. J. S. Carrico. Carrico said a tractor-trailer, driven by Dean Harris of Oshawa, Ontario, struck the van on the driver's side, killing Woods. A second tractor-trailer, driven by 76-year-old William Hildebrand of North Freedom, Wis., was unable to stop and struck the trailer of the first semi.  

Hildebrand was taken to Wilson Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The passenger of the van, Bernadette Woods of Toledo, was taken to Lima Memorial Hospital, also with non-life threatening injuries. Harris, the driver of the first rig, was not injured.

The crash ruptured a fuel tank on the first tractor-trailer, spilling approximately 200 gallons of diesel fuel onto the roadway and jackknifed the rig across both southbound lanes. The EPA was called to the scene because of the fuel spill.

The accident happened around 3:15 and the forced troopers to close the southbound lanes for most of the morning.

Both crashes are still being investigated.