Ashtabula County Scanner

CLEVELAND — A “controlled release” at an Ashtabula chemicals plant released a plume of smoke into the air on Saturday afternoon — but authorities say there’s no cause for concern.

The large, white plume of unknown matter could be seen wafting over the campus at INEOS Pigments, where 3News crews also observed striking workers from the Teamsters Local 377 labor union picketing outside.

A dispatcher for the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office told 3News the department was aware of the chemical release and that there is no danger to the public. No evacuation orders have been issued in the area.

INEOS Pigments describes itself as “one of the largest producers of titanium dioxide in North America and the leading producer of titanium chemicals.” The firm operates multiple plants on Middle Road in Ashtabula.

'Controlled release' at Ashtabula chemicals plant poses no danger to public, sheriff's office says A “controlled release” at INEOS Pigments in Ashtabula released a plume of unknown matter into the air on Saturday. Authorities say there’s no cause for concern.

ASHTABULA, Ohio — A driver is dead after an early morning fiery crash that caused significant damage to The Crow's Nest restaurant in Ashtabula County.

According to the Ashtabula Fire Department, the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. Friday along Route 11 North near Harmon Road.

Fire officials told 3News the truck was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed when it crashed. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado drove through the intersection at State Route 531 and traveled off the side of the road.

"The Silverado struck a concrete post, a fence, a house and The Crow's Nest Restaurant," explained OSHP officials.

Officials say the driver, identified as 52-year-old John Yerkey of Salem, was ejected from the vehicle when it caught fire and pronounced dead at the scene. Officials are still investigating what caused him to crash.

The impact caused the vehicle to land on the restaurant’s roof, where it then exploded, igniting a fire. The Ashtabula Fire Department responded and contained the flames.

Shawn Watson lives in the home and works at the restaurant.

“I was asleep, and then I heard a big boom and something lit up red and I looked out the window and there was a huge fire," he told 3News.

Having seen the flames, Watson immediately called his boss -- R.J. Detroe, general manager of The Crow's Nest.

“I didn't even put socks on. I just threw some clothes on. I ran out the door, got in the car," Detore recalled. "When I pull into the parking lot, I can see flames shooting up over the top of the building."

Not realizing the severity of the situation, Detore grabbed a fire extinguisher and tried to put the flames out himself.

“I ran out the back door and I came around the outside to see what I could do. Where I found a gentleman that had passed away laying on the ground and the car fully engulfed in flames, and the flames just getting bigger and bigger.”

"The back (west side) of our building was torched. Our walk in cooler and freezer were destroyed as well and some back room supplies," said The Crow's Nest in a Facebook post.

Fiery crash in Ashtabula: Driver dies after truck hits fence and house before slamming into The Crow's Nest restaurant A driver died in a fiery crash that damaged The Crow's Nest restaurant in Ashtabula County.

FYI: Sheetz 20 & 11 : Approx May 3rd Closing down for 6 months to a Year - Speedway will be ready for your Business

Ambulance service to rural townships continues to be a challenge not only in Ashtabula County, but around the state of Ohio.

Ohio 65th District State Representative David Thomas is co-sponsoring legislation that would make ambulance service mandatory for government entities throughout the state and provide a financial benefit for those that consolidate services with other entities.

Ambulance service has been especially problematic in the Southeast portion of Ashtabula County, after the closure of the Andover Emergency Room in Spring 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many of the rural townships and villages don’t have the financial tax base to easily fund emergency services. Thomas’s legislation would provide a potential grant for government groups joining together to create a district to provide services.

Two such districts have been handling emergency ambulance services in Ashtabula County for 50 years. South Central Ambulance District and Northwest Ambulance District service much of the Southwest and Northwest portions of the county, respectively.

“We cannot continue to shift the tax burden for EMS to those who have the service and are paying for it while those who use it don’t pay,” Thomas said in an email.

Thomas said some areas are receiving mutual aid services from existing districts without paying for it. This has become an issue with SCAD and the Southeast portion of the county, which is serviced primarily by Community Care Ambulance.

SCAD Executive Director Shaun Buehner said he met with Community Care Ambulance and township and village leaders in the Andover area to express concerns that he can no longer make all the mutual aid calls from outside the district.

Ashtabula County commissioners Casey Kozlowski and J.P. Ducro have been working with leaders in an attempt to create a district in the area, but finances are a problem.

The tax base in the rural townships means millage would have to be much higher than present to create a long-term functioning district. Kozlowski said it is still his opinion that a district in the area is necessary, and would like to continue to be involved in the discussions.

Buehner said the meeting with Community Care Ambulance was helpful, as service to the area has improved.

Andover Village Council President Randy Gentry said he understands SCAD’s concerns about handling many calls outside their jurisdiction without funding. He said discussions with CCA have created more service when an ambulance has to leave the district for a hospital outside the area.

CCA presently services the village of Andover and surrounding townships. Andover Township Trustee William French said the township recently signed their contract with Community Care.

When the emergency room was open, the turnaround before an ambulance was back in service was quick, but that is no longer the case because transports are to Chardon, Ashtabula, Conneaut, Meadville or Youngstown.

Gentry said he is somewhat concerned that the proposed mandatory ambulance service will become another unfunded mandate. Buehner said he would like to see the ambulance grant be available for existing districts to upgrade services.

Thomas said the legislation would encourage government leaders to lower costs.

“I think we all have to be very open to changes and how we provide services moving forward, because our taxpayers simply can’t afford the status quo,” Thomas said.

Local leaders also expressed concerns about property taxes going away completely or being drastically reduced, causing further confusion to the ambulance funding situation.

Ambulance issues continue to be a challenge to area governments Ambulance service to rural townships continues to be a challenge not only in Ashtabula County, but around the state of Ohio.