LORAIN COUNTY — Route 57 in Elyria by Midway Mall and the Ohio Turnpike was closed in both directions late Friday night following two separate crashes that tied up traffic for nearly two hours.
The first crash occurred around 10:10 p.m. in the southbound lanes, with a three vehicle motor vehicle accident. Two of the vehicles sustained moderate to heavy damage, and two squads responded to the scene.
At approximately 11:00 p.m., a separate crash occurred in the northbound lanes when a semi-truck struck construction guide wires beneath a bridge under repair. Witnesses said construction workers ran for safety as the impact occurred. The semi driver was shaken but not injured.
The truck became tangled in the cables and remained stuck for around an hour before being freed. It was later moved to the Lowe’s parking lot on Griswold Road. The vehicle was reported to be a total loss.
By midnight, both crash scenes had been cleared and traffic in both directions was reopened.
Authorities and witnesses stressed the importance of slowing down and using caution in construction zones, where traffic patterns and lane restrictions increase the risk of serious accidents.