A truck driver was killed Friday night in a crash in Richland County on I-71 near Ohio 97

MANSFIELD – A tractor-trailer operator was killed Friday evening in a single-vehicle crash on I-71 in Richland County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Mansfield Post.

The driver’s name was not released Saturday morning pending identification and notification of next of kin.

Officers responded to a report of a commercial vehicle crash on the interstate at 11:53 p.m., north of the Ohio 97 exit.

Police officers who arrived at the scene found a vehicle on fire on the eastern side of the road.

Initial investigation revealed that it was an unknown make and model of tractor-trailer
Troopers said he was traveling northbound on I-71.

He drove off to the right side of the road and hit a barrier and a lighting pole. The tractor-trailer drove down a steep embankment, overturned and caught fire.

The Richland County Coroner’s Office pronounced the driver dead at the scene.

The Mansfield Post was assisted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and Bellville Police
Department, Washington Township Fire and EMS, Troy Fire Department, Mansfield Fire Department
and EMS and Jefferson Township Fire and EMS.