Snowplow driver had clean record

SANDUSKY — The snowplow driver who threw snow and ice on more than 50 vehicles on the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County, injuring more than a dozen people, had no blemishes on his prior driving record. Turnpike officials this week released new details about the driver, who was recently fired after the Jan. 23 accident near the U.S. 250 interchange. The man, a 54-year-old turnpike employee from Berea, was fired from the turnpike's maintenance crew after a video of the incident caught attention online at the end of January. The clip showed the plow tossing wall of ice and snow over the turnpike median. According to the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, 18 people were injured and 55 cars sustained damage. On Tuesday, a spokesman for the turnpike commission said the driver responsible was fired and a report of the incident was sent to the Erie County prosecutor to determine if charges would be filed. Spokesman Charles Cyrill said the man had been plowing snow for over six years. He was trained by the turnpike and had previous training and ice removal experience from a past employer. The driver did not have any prior accidents or violations while employed by the Turnpike Commission. The driver "completed extensive snow and ice operations training in December 2015. He completed another extensive snow and ice operations training in November 2018," Cyrill said. "Training is also incremental, and snowplow operators are continually trained on field directives." The commission has not yet stated exactly what caused the incident but said that investigators do not suspect he was under the influence while operating the plow. Cyrill said the driver did complete a drug test following the incident, which is part of their protocol following incidents that result in "accident or injury." "We have no reason to believe the driver was impaired, and this was not suspected by the Highway Patrol or part of its investigation," he said. So far, 51 people have filed property damage claims to the Turnpike Commission. Eighteen people were treated for injuries, the worst being facial lacerations and a broken nose, according to the patrol. Turnpike Commission executive director, Ferzan Ahmed, called the incident extremely serious. "The nature, breadth and severity of the property damage and injuries make the event egregious," Cyrill said. The driver is cooperating with the investigation. He has not admitted to any wrongdoing, Cyrill said.