MONTGOMERY — Twelve people suffered minor injuries Friday when a 15-foot section of culvert pipe fell off a tractor-trailer on southbound Interstate 71 and two vehicles hit it.

        The incident, which occurred about 12:30 p.m. just south of Pfeiffer Road, closed the southbound lanes of the interstate for almost two hours.

Amanda Bodenschatz (right) of Sycamore Township tries to compose herself while Ivey Hedges of Blue Ash looks at the scene after both were involved in an accident caused by the fallen pipe (background). (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        The 8-foot diameter pipe hit the Zig Zag Road overpass on I-71 as the truck passed through. The pipe fell off the vehicle and blocked the highway.

        A car and a van hit the pipe. Five of the 12 people injured were transported to Jewish Hospital; seven were taken to Bethesda North.

        Ying Zhang, 23, of Dayton remained hospitalized Friday night at Jewish Hospital, a spokesman said. The other 11 people were treated and released.

        The 22-year-old truck driver, Nick Bowling of Rush, Ky., was not injured. He was hauling the pipe for DLB Trucking from Mitchell, Ind., to Cincinnati when it hit a beam in the overpass.

        The pipe “had the whole interstate blocked,” said Montgomery Fire Lt. Bob Young.

        Main roads in Blue Ash and Montgomery were jammed through the noon hour while crews worked on the overpass. The interstate reopened about 2:15 p.m.

        While crews cleaned up the accident, Ohio Department of Transportation officials focused on the underside of the overpass. Using boom trucks, they took measurements and studied the beams.

        The overpass was deemed safe to reopen, but crews will have to straighten the damaged beam and install new braces, said Tom Klug, ODOT's manager for Hamilton County.

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