A tow truck driver prepares to remove a wreck vehicle on the I-80 Bridge near Emlenton. The wreck occurred around 6:00 a.m., shutting down East-bound traffic Thursday.

A Clintonville firefighter was struck by a semitruck Thursday morning on Interstate 80 just across the border from Butler County.

“We're praying for our member and his family,” said Clintonville Fire Chief Grant Rea.

Rea could not comment further on the firefighter's condition or about the accident.

Firefighters who were at the scene said a medical helicopter was initially called for the firefighter, but poor weather conditions at the scene made it impossible to land. The firefighter was instead taken by ambulance to Grove City Medical Center.

According to a state police report, firefighter Justin Williams, 25, was providing traffic control for a multivehicle accident on the I-80 bridge, which spans over the Allegheny River.

Police said the driver, a man from Mercer lost control of his Peterbilt semitruck on the snow-covered road. According to police, the truck slid into a guard rail on the south berm before hitting Williams.

“The pedestrian is believed to have sustained non-life threatening injuries,” the report said.

The report said charges against the driver are undetermined at this time.

According to PA 511, the first accident was reported at 6:46 a.m., which closed traffic between Exits 45 and 42, and it was for this incident Williams was directing traffic.

This is a breaking news report — subscribe online or print to read the full article in Friday's Butler Eagle.