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Fatal accident closes Central Avenue between Richfield Center and Raab roads

OSHP advises drivers to avoid the area as the road will be closed indefinitely so ODOT can assess the surface's integrity following the fiery crash.

SWANTON, Ohio — An fatal accident that involved a pickup truck and a commercial vehicle catching on fire on Central Avenue has the road closed between Richfield Center and Raab roads.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Toledo Post is currently investigating the crash that occurred Tuesday at approximately 11:15 a.m. on West Central Avenue, near North Berkey Southern Road.

According to the post, the crash involved a 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck and a 2014 Kenworth commercial dump truck, operated by Kenneth Knitz, 54, of Deshler. The pickup truck driver's information is withheld pending a next of kin notification.

The post said the pickup was traveling westbound on Central Avenue when it traveled left of center, and struck the semitrailer head-on. After the impact, both vehicles became fully engulfed.

Credit: WTOL

Knitz suffered minor injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The pickup truck driver died at the scene.

West Central Avenue is currently closed between North Berkey Southern Road and Richfield Center Road. The Ohio Department of Transportation currently has a detour in place, and the road will remain closed pending evaluation of the road surface.

Due to the heat involved, the road will be shut down indefinitely for ODOT to assess the integrity of the road, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Troopers ask that motorists avoid the area while the investigation is underway.

The road is set to be reopen at 5 p.m. but one of the lanes should be closed again Thursday morning for work on damages caused by the accident. 

Credit: Jeff Meinhold

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