Three commercial vehicles in accident on Ohio Turnpike

GROTON TOWNSHIP — A three-vehicle, serious injury crash occurred on the eastbound side of the Ohio Turnpike in Erie County, near mile post 106.5, Monday afternoon.Shawn R. McKissack, 51, of Colorado, was driving a 2017 Freightliner Cascadia semi eastbound on the Turnpike in the right lane, according to a report from the Milan Post of State Highway Patrol. Luke H. Hardwick, 28, of Wadsworth, also was driving in the right lane in a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia, ahead of McKissack, the release states. Donald A. Parsons, 44, of North Ridgeville, was driving a 2009 Freightliner Cascadia in the middle lane, also head of McKissack, it states.Hardwick and Parsons slowed due to a crash in the roadway ahead of them, and McKissack was unable to stop with assured clear distance ahead and swerved to avoid striking Hardwick, the release states.McKissack then struck both Hardwick and Parsons in the rear, causing McKissack to be ejected from his vehicle, it states.Hardwick's vehicle went onto the south shoulder and Parsons onto the north shoulder, and McKissack's vehicle came to rest in the middle lane, it states.McKissack was flown from the scene to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center with critical injuries, the release states.Parsons was transported to Firelands Hospital with minor injuries, and Hardwick and his passenger, Maurice S. Dudley, 43, of Canton, were not injured in the crash, the release states.Hardwick, Parsons and Dudley were all wearing seat belts at the time of the accident, and McKissack was not, it states.The Ohio Turnpike was closed on the eastbound side for approximately two hours while the scene was cleared Monday, the release states. No other factors are suspected to have contributed to the accident, according to the release.The Ohio Turnpike Commission, North Central EMS, Groton Township Fire Department, Sandusky County EMS and Madison Motors assisted at the scene.