CLEVELAND, OH--A fatal crash and major fuel spill kept part of I-77 northbound shut down for hours on Sunday, forcing drivers to find another route.
Authorities tell Fox 8 approximately 500 gallons of fuel filled the roadway, after the driver of a truck hauling it was trying to avoid a wrong way driver, who had just collided head on with another vehicle.
The accident happened around 3:30 AM, but because of the hazardous mess, it took crews hours to get the problem under control. All afternoon there was the smell of fuel in the air as the mess was cleared.
The Cleveland Fire Department, along with HAZMAT crews, had to apply foam on the fuel spill as a vapor barrier to keep the spill from igniting.
"It's a shame," said David Glowacki, who stopped by the accident scene to take photos.
"I worry about this every day of my life, every day I get in a truck, someone coming the wrong way you never know what's going to happen," he said.
Authorities wanted drivers to be aware of the situation, especially since it could delay their plans.
Several Cavs fans tell Fox 8 they had to reroute on their way up to Sunday evening's home game downtown.
"I called my mother and said hey we can't go that way," said Thomas Cox.
"If we were running late we might have missed tip-off, so good thing we got up here early," said Louis Banks, as he walked into the game.
The northbound lanes of I-77 between I-480 and Pershing Avenue were opened around 8:00 PM, Sunday.
Police have not identified the person who died as a result of Sunday morning's wrong way crash; it is unclear if there were any other injuries.
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UPDATE, 8 p.m.: Indpendence police report that the left two lanes of I77 are now open at Pershing Avenue. The ramps that were closed are also open.
CLEVELAND -- A portion of Interstate 77 North is closed because of a wrong-way fatal crash and fuel tank spill. The roadway is shutdown between Interstate 480 and Pershing Avenue while crews work to clean up approximately 500 gallons of fuel that spilled onto the freeway.
Officials anticipate the closure to continue for the next 6-8 hours. Those attending the Cavs game tonight are encouraged to take a different route of travel, if coming in from that direction.
Cleveland police say the accident happened early Sunday morning, just after 3 a.m. The Cleveland Fire Department said a wrong-way driver crashed into another car head-on near the Broadway exit, causing the fuel truck to swerve off the side of the road and crash.
One person was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Cleveland EMS. There was no immediate word on other injuries in this crash.
The truck's tank was ruptured, spilling about 500 gallons of fuel onto the roadway.
Cleveland fire and HAZMAT crews applied foam to the spill as a vapor barrier to keep the fuel spill from igniting, the department said on its Twitter page.
The Environmental Protection Agency is on the scene assisting with the spill.
Stick with Fox 8 News and FOX8.com for updates as they become available.