This is the terrifying moment a car went off the road when a snowplow hurled a torrent of chunks of ice into oncoming traffic, causing multiple accidents.
Ohio The State Highway Patrol said at least 40 cars were damaged by or in crashes caused by flying debris, with 12 people injured, in the incident on the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County on Jan. 23.
Footage captured on truck driver Michael Lemon's dashcam shows the snowplow appearing to travel as fast as other traffic, at around 70 mph, causing it to send hardened snow and slush at vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. .
The Ohio State Highway Patrol at least 40 cars were damaged by flying debris or resulting accidents with 12 people injured, none life-threatening, on the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County on January 23. In the photo, a car runs off the road after being hit by the spray of ice and snow
Footage captured on truck driver Michael Lemon's dash cam shows the snowplow appearing to travel as fast as other traffic, at around 70 mph, causing it to send hardened snow and debris in the opposite direction.
Lemon's footage shows the snowplow looming on the opposite side of the muddy road.
A spray of snow, ice and sleet engulfs the vehicles ahead of him and one swerves across the lanes and off the road.
Lemon said: 'I've never seen anything like it. He didn't know how to react, he was dumbfounded that someone could be so reckless.
He said 3WTKR other drivers also didn't know how to react, saying: 'A lot of them didn't even know what to do, they just tried to stay in their own lane and hoped to ride it out.'
Debris from the snowplow severely damaged numerous cars. Lemon said the one in the video of her was left with a huge hole in the front windshield.
He said he stopped and talked to the crash victims, some of whom had arm and shoulder injuries. None of the injuries were life-threatening, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Debris from the snowplow severely damaged numerous cars. Lemon said the one in the video of her was left with a huge hole in the front windshield.
Mr. Lemon's truck was also hit and he said one of his headlights came off the hood.
The snowplow driver has been identified as Timothy S Rakay, 54, from Berea. He has been placed on administrative leave, is not injured and is cooperating with investigators.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was contacted around 1:46 p.m. Sunday.
They found that the snowplow was traveling west while dumping large amounts of snow and ice across the highway onto cars heading east.
Debris from the snowplow severely damaged numerous cars. Lemon said the one in the video of her was left with a huge hole in the front windshield.
A spokesman for the Ohio Highway and Infrastructure Commission said the vehicle appeared to have done so for "a couple of miles."
The spokesman said: "During our snow and ice operations, a snowplow driver was traveling westbound plowing snow in the left lane and on the left shoulder with the snowplow deployed.
'Starting near milepost 117, which is near the junction for State Route 250, the snow plow operator was dumping snow, ice and sleet over the median divider wall into oncoming traffic.
โThis appears to have occurred over a couple of miles resulting in damage to approximately 40 cars and trucks, causing accidents and unfortunately injuries.
'As with any incident resulting in an accident or injury, the employee was immediately removed from his shift and sent for mandatory drug and alcohol testing.
'The employee is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of these investigations when appropriate action is taken.
The Ohio State Patrol, Ohio Turnpike Maintenance and disabled vehicle service companies, Interstate Towing and Madison Motor Service, helped remove the vehicles from the turnpike.
โWe took clients to the patrol post in Milan, Ohio, as well as to a local restaurant and hotel.
"We are coordinating our efforts with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and are currently directly contacting each customer who was affected by yesterday's snowplow incident."
The incident is being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and potential charges are pending the Erie County District Attorney's review of the findings.
