ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio (WTRF) — A tragic crash in Belmont County claimed the life of a Minerva man Wednesday morning after his semi-truck overturned and caught fire.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, 38-year-old Joseph W. Ferrell was driving a 1997 Kenworth southbound on Township Road 311 (Patterson Hill Road) in Pultney Township around 7:59 a.m. when the truck experienced an equipment failure.
Investigators say the malfunction caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, travel into a wooded area, and roll over. The semi then caught fire, trapping Ferrell inside. He was unable to escape and died at the scene.
Multiple agencies responded to the incident, including the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, several fire departments, the county coroner’s office, the Belmont County Emergency Management Agency, ODOT, and two towing companies.
The crash remains under investigation.
