I-90 CRASH DAMAGES PENNSYLVANIA FIRE TRUCK, CRUISER

A Conneaut police cruiser and fire engine were damaged in an accident early Friday afternoon on Interstate 90 at the Pennsylvania line, according to reports. No city safety personnel were injured, but two motorists involved in the crash required medical care, authorities said.

The safety vehicles were dispatched around noon to an accident in the westbound lanes, according to reports. Upon arrival, the units learned the crash occurred just inside Pennsylvania, officials said.

The fire truck and cruiser, parked near the scene for traffic control, were involved in a chain accident, said Police Chief Jon Arcaro. A semi-truck approaching the area struck a car, shoving it into the cruiser, he said. The car continued on, banging into the fire truck, Arcaro said.

Police Lt. Robert Zimmerman was “shaken up” by the accident but did not require medical treatment, Arcaro said. Conneaut firefighters in and near the truck also escaped injury, said Assistant Fire Chief Michael Castrilla. Two people in the vehicles were reportedly transported to UH Conneaut Medical Center for treatment, Castrilla said.

The cruiser sustained heavy damage and had to be towed from the scene, Arcaro said. The fire truck sustained minor damage, Castrilla said. Westbound traffic on I-90 was temporarily detoured off the freeway at Route 6N in West Springfield, Pa. Vehicles streamed into Conneaut via Route 20 before returning to I-90 via Route 7. The freeway’s westbound lanes were closed for about an hour, officials said.

The Pennsylvania State Police were investigating the crash involving the Conneaut vehicles, as well as the initial accident. Additional information was not immediately available on either accident, a PSP dispatcher said Friday.

Conneaut safety personnel were also sent to an accident shortly after noon at Amboy and West Main roads. Vehicles collided at the intersection, but occupants declined medical treatment, said Fire Station 4 Battalion Chief Nick Colby.