Motorist killed on Turnpike

WASHINGTON TWP. — A man was killed on the Ohio Turnpike on Wednesday when a tractor-trailer hit a bridge under repair and dislodged a piece of construction equipment that slammed the van the man was driving, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.The accident happened just after 11 a.m. near mile post 84 in Sandusky County, the Patrol stated in a news release. The tractor-trailer, a vehicle hauler with ramps for getting cargo on and off, was traveling with the ramps extended above the height limit to safely pass under the bridge.When it tried to go under the bridge, one of its ramps hit the underside of the construction equipment, causing the equipment to fly off and hit a Mercedes-Benz van behind it that the victim was driving, the release states.The Patrol did not release the name of the man killed.He suffered severe facial cuts and injuries and died while en route to Toledo's St. Vincent Hospital.The tractor-trailer was being driven by Steven Behind, 58, of Miltona, Minnesota.The Milan Post of the Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be factors.More State Highway Patrol articlesReach reporter Michael Harrington at michaelharrington@sanduskyregister.com, follow the Register at Facebook.com/SanduskyRegister