Two Muskingum County firefighters were injured, one of them critically, after a tanker-style fire truck rolled on State Route 208 Thursday morning near 910 Dresden-Adamsville Road in Dresden. Officials say the rig dropped off the edge of the road while coming down a hill, flipped, hit a tree, and then came to rest back on its wheels. One firefighter was airlifted to Grant Medical Center in Columbus, while the other was taken to Genesis Hospital in Zanesville and was reported in stable condition.
How the crash unfolded
According to WSYX, the crash happened near 910 Dresden-Adamsville Road as the truck was responding to a reported fire on North River Road. A department spokesman told WSYX the tanker dropped off the edge of the road while descending a hill and, when the driver tried to correct, the vehicle flipped, struck a tree, and ended up back on its wheels. The spokesman added that freeing the driver took a lengthy extrication effort.
Emergency response and helicopter transfers
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, and Muskingum County Emergency Management Director Jeff Jadwin told WHIZ the crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. Both firefighters were pulled from the truck and transported by medical helicopter, WHIZ reported, while local crews secured the scene and tended to the injured. Officials have not released the firefighters' names, citing the need to notify family members first.
Where the injured were taken
WSYX reports that one firefighter was flown to Grant Medical Center in Columbus in critical condition, while the second was taken to Genesis Hospital in Zanesville and described as stable. Hospital officials have not released further details on their conditions, and Muskingum County officials said they would share updates when they are available. Multiple local agencies remained at the scene for hours as investigators documented the wreck and cleared debris from the roadway.
Road safety and local context
State Route 208 cuts through hilly, rural terrain, and county crash maps show several nearby roads in the Dresden area among higher-frequency crash locations. The county's 2020–2024 crash map highlights clusters of collisions that underscore how narrow, steep rural roads can pose challenges for heavy emergency vehicles. For a closer look, see the Muskingum County crash map. Planners and safety officials often point to roadway geometry and limited sight lines as complicating factors for emergency response on routes like SR-208.
Investigation ongoing
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and asked drivers to steer clear of the area while crews worked the scene, according to WHIZ. Authorities have not said whether speed, weather or mechanical issues were factors in the crash. This story will be updated as officials release additional information and as hospital updates become available.
