More than 20 vehicles pile up on I-76 eastbound, yesterday, closing the highway in that direction and backing up westbound traffic for several miles. Officials are blaming the poor weather conditions for the accidents. AMANDA SOWARDS | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: John Proppe

Truck driver Dan Dickey, 29, of Grove City, Pa., described yesterday afternoon’s pileup on I-76 East as a “complete wipeout.”

Dickey was on his way back to Grove City when he saw a tanker-truck creep up on his vehicle in his rearview mirror. The tanker collided with Dickey’s truck and three other vehicles before coming to a stop in the median.

After hitting the back of his head on his seat, Dickey was able to maintain control of his truck before stopping it on the shoulder of the highway.

“This never would’ve happened if all these people would’ve traveled at a safe speed and distance,” Dickey said.

His truck was said to be one of at least 20 vehicles in a pileup containing multiple semi-trucks, said Chief Tim Paulus of the Palmyra Township Fire Department.

Paulus said five injuries were reported, none of which were serious in nature. At 3:30 p.m. yesterday, he estimated the scene would take three to four hours to clean up.

“The interstate was terrible,” Paulus said.

According to Weather.com, a lake effect snow warning was issued at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, forecasting 2-5 inches of possible snowfall near Ravenna, Lorain, Medina and Akron.

Rick Hunter, 62, of Youngstown, was driving to Youngstown to drop off an aluminum shipment when he was rear-ended by a vehicle he said was traveling 40 to 50 miles per hour.

“I’ve never seen an accident like this,” said Hunter, who had never been previously involved in an accident as a truck driver.

Contact public affairs reporter Ben Breier at [email protected].