By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS — A Shelby man was seriously injured when the dump truck he was driving plunged into the Sandusky River at approximately 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning.
According to the Bucyrus Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Gary Hockenberry, 27, was traveling eastbound on U.S. 30, north of the Ohio 98 exit, when his left front tire blew, causing him to lose control and veer off the roadway into the median. The truck traveled along the guardrail until it dropped into the river at the bridge.
Hockenberry was transferred from the scene by a medical helicopter and taken to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Toledo. According to the patrol, he sustained incapacitating but nonlife-threatening injuries.
The Bucyrus Fire Department ladder truck was used in the rescue efforts of the man. Liberty Township firefighters assisted at the scene along with deputies from the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Life Support Team EMS.
The eastbound lanes of U.S. 30 were closed to traffic for approximately an hour before one lane was opened back up around 11 a.m.
Bloomfield Towing was assisted at the scene by Danner’s Towing and Hi Way 101 in removing the vehicle from the river.
The accident is under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.