SARDIS, Ohio (AVC News) — A commercial truck carrying a flammable hazardous material overturned Tuesday night in Monroe County, seriously injuring the driver and forcing the closure of State Route 255 and several nearby county roads.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred on State Route 255 in Lee Township.
Investigators said a semi, driven by Ronnie Starling, 61, of Texas, was traveling south toward Sardis when it overturned while negotiating a downhill left curve. The truck and trailer went through a guardrail and rolled down an embankment.
The trailer began leaking condensate, a flammable hazardous material.
Fire and EMS crews rescued Starling from the wreckage before he was flown to Wetzel County Hospital in New Martinsville, West Virginia, with serious injuries.
Authorities closed State Route 255 and surrounding county roads during the emergency response. Officials said no evacuations were necessary and there is no immediate threat to the public, although the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency will continue monitoring the cleanup.
Multiple agencies responded, including local fire departments, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Monroe County EMA, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Transportation and specialized hazardous materials cleanup crews.
The crash remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Last Updated on July 22, 2026 by AVC News
