One killed in I-70 crash in Licking County

A Mississippi man was killed in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Licking County on Thursday.

Around 11:42 p.m. Thursday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol was called to mile marker 132 on Interstate 70 in Licking Township for a crash.

The agency said James L. Parker, 82, of Laurel, Mississippi, was driving a white 2018 Chevrolet Equinox westbound in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, while William Havyarimana, 34, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was driving a 2016 Freightliner and trailer eastbound on I-70. The vehicle struck head on, causing the Equinox to strike a guardrail.

The Freightliner, the agency said, continued off the road, striking a guardrail and overturned down an embankment and into a body of water. The Freightliner was carrying hazardous materials and the Environmental Protection Agency came to the scene for an evaluation.

Interstate 70 eastbound remains under lane restrictions for HAZMAT material clean-up.

Parker was pronounced deceased on scene.

Havyarimana was taken to Licking Memorial Hospital by West Licking Joint Fire District with non-life threatening injuries.

OSP said the driver of the Equinox was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

In addition to OSP, Licking Township Fire Company, West Licking, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and The Ohio Department of Transportation responded to the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Lakewood Local Schools, which was affected by traffic diverted through Hebron, was on a two-hour delay. The high school was on a remote learning day on Friday.

This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: One killed in I-70 crash in Licking County