Fostoria News Fire on tank roof at Woodville Road industrial site in Toledo with fire truck and ladder.

CRIME RADAR | Small fire on asphalt tank at Woodville Road industrial site, Toledo

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Illustration of firefighters spraying water on a small fire atop an industrial storage tank

Author: FFP Ai Bot

TOLEDO – Toledo firefighters were called Monday afternoon to a small fire on the roof of a storage tank at an industrial site near Woodville Road on the city’s east side, according to fire dispatch radio traffic.

Crews on the radio said the tank was believed to hold solidified asphalt and that the fire appeared limited to the tank’s roof. A fire official reported no product being released and no nearby exposures in danger, and a hazardous materials response was held off.

Before water was put on the fire, crews had a facility representative shut off a steam line to the tank, and power to a mixer on top of the tank was cut. Firefighters, joined by a truck from neighboring Oregon, then set up a water stream on the tank. Radio traffic also indicated Woodville Road was shut down in the area while crews worked. The dispatch activity was logged around 3:55 p.m.

Smoke from the scene was visible across parts of Toledo, according to social media posts shared later in the afternoon. Some posts described a loud explosion at a refinery on Woodville Road, but that claim has not been confirmed by officials or news outlets, and fire radio traffic described only a small fire on a tank roof.

No injuries were mentioned in the radio traffic. Toledo Fire and Rescue has not released details on the cause or the name of the facility. Woodville Road’s industrial corridor includes several fuel and asphalt storage sites, which file emergency plans with the Lucas County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

This is a developing story and will be updated as officials release more information.

Sources:
Toledo Fire-Tac dispatch audio and transcript (CrimeRadar), Oct. 26, 2026: https://www.uscrimeradar.com/m/4239-50048_1793043725_wwgrhmsy
Lucas County LEPC facility hazard analysis, Woodville Road: https://www.co.lucas.oh.us/DocumentCenter/View/93756/Seneca-Petroleum-Woodville-Map-and-Hazard-Analysis
City of Toledo: https://toledo.oh.gov/

Fostoria News Lucas County, OH car crash fatal accident scene.

TOLEDO | Toledo Man, 26, Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash on Central Avenue Near North Cove Boulevard

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Illustration: Lucas County, OH fatal accident graphic with a highway patrol cruiser

TOLEDO, Ohio — A 26-year-old Toledo man died and two other men were hurt in a two-vehicle crash early Sunday, Oct. 25, near North Cove Boulevard and Central Avenue in west Toledo, according to Toledo police.

Officers were sent to the area around 3:47 a.m. after 911 dispatchers received an automated crash notification through Apple’s Crash Detection feature, Toledo Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Mohamad Nasser told WTOL 11.

Police said a 29-year-old Toledo man was driving west on Central Avenue in the curb lane when another westbound vehicle, traveling in the left lane, tried to turn right onto Pioneer Lane in front of him. The turning vehicle was struck on its passenger side.

The driver of the turning vehicle, identified by police as Charlton Wallace, 26, of Toledo, and his 26-year-old passenger were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. Wallace was pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

The 29-year-old driver had what police described as possible injuries. At least one person had to be freed from a vehicle by rescue crews.

Police said Wallace’s family has been notified. The crash remains under investigation, and no charges had been announced as of Monday.

More information about the department is available on the Toledo Police Department website.

The Fostoria Free Press extends its condolences to Wallace’s family and friends. This story will be updated if police release more information.

Sources

  • Toledo Police Department, as reported by WTOL 11, “One killed, two injured in two-vehicle crash early Sunday in west Toledo” (Oct. 25, 2026): https://www.wtol.com/article/traffic/incidents/fatal-two-vehicle-crash-early-sunday-central-avenue-west-toledo/512-5f0e4727-b76e-4982-8475-6fb083cf60d9
  • Toledo Police Department, as reported by 13abc, “One person dead in early morning car crash in Toledo” (Oct. 25, 2026): https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/25/three-people-hospitalized-early-morning-car-crash-toledo/
  • Toledo Police Department: https://toledopolice.com/
Fostoria News Grand jury indicts man in alleged assault at Bowling Green plant.

BOWLING GREEN | Wood County Grand Jury Indicts Man in Alleged Workplace Assault at Local Plant

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Fostoria Free Press illustration: scales of justice, a gavel and a courthouse outline on a navy background with the words Wood County Indictment

BOWLING GREEN – A Wood County grand jury on Thursday, Oct. 22, indicted a 34-year-old Toledo man accused of attacking two coworkers at the Toledo Molding and Die plant on East Gypsy Lane Road in Bowling Green last month, WTOL 11 reported.

Johnathan McNeal is charged with one count of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and one count of assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.

What police say happened

Bowling Green police were called to the plant on Monday, Sept. 14, after coworkers reported an altercation involving McNeal. He had already left the building when officers arrived, according to police reports cited by WTOL 11 and 13 ABC.

According to those reports, a female coworker tried to explain to McNeal how he should label his work. Witnesses told police he argued with her and then allegedly punched her in the throat.

Other employees called a shift supervisor, who approached McNeal. Witnesses told police McNeal picked up the supervisor and slammed him into a work table, a nearby machine and the ground, then hit him while he was down.

An officer who reviewed security camera footage wrote that it showed McNeal holding the man upside down by his legs, slamming his head into a shelf and onto the concrete floor, and then stomping on his head several times before walking away, according to the police report as described by WTOL 11 and BG Independent News.

Officers found the supervisor lying on his back beside a machine with blood around his head, according to police. He was taken to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo with serious injuries, the reports said. His current condition has not been released.

Police said McNeal grabbed his backpack and left. One witness told officers he had worked at the factory for about two weeks.

Arrest and court case

Police sought warrants and McNeal was arrested Sept. 15. He was booked into the Wood County Justice Center on the felonious assault and assault charges, and his bond was set at $50,000, 13 ABC reported, citing Bowling Green Municipal Court records. The case has now moved to Wood County Common Pleas Court with the grand jury indictment.

A next court date has not been scheduled, according to WTOL 11. FFP could not immediately confirm whether McNeal has an attorney. Public case records are kept by the Wood County Clerk of Courts.

FFP is not naming the two coworkers.

An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. McNeal is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.

Sources: WTOL 11, “Man indicted for September assault on Toledo Molding and Die employees” (Oct. 22, 2026); WTOL 11, “Man arrested for violent beating incident at Bowling Green manufacturing company” (Sept. 15, 2026); 13 ABC (WTVG), “Toledo man arrested in Bowling Green factory assault that hospitalized victim” (Sept. 15-16, 2026); BG Independent News, “BG Police respond to assault at manufacturing plant; seek warrant for suspect” (Sept. 2026); Bowling Green Police Division reports as described by those outlets; Wood County Clerk of Courts (clerkofcourt.co.wood.oh.us).

Fostoria News Toledo man indicted in fentanyl overdose death.

BOWLING GREEN | Toledo Man Indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter in Fentanyl Overdose Death of Former Toledo Storm Player

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Fostoria News: Illustration of a gavel on indictment papers beside an evidence bag and pill bottle, with headline: Toledo Man Indicted in Fentanyl Overdose Death of Former Toledo Storm Player

BOWLING GREEN — A Wood County grand jury has indicted a 22-year-old Toledo man on an involuntary manslaughter charge, alleging he supplied the fentanyl-related drug that killed a 50-year-old former Toledo Storm hockey player in April.

The grand jury returned the indictment against Riley Leu on Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Sentinel-Tribune reported. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The charges

Leu is charged with:

  • Involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony (see Ohio Revised Code 2903.04)
  • Corrupting another with drugs, a second-degree felony (see ORC 2925.02)
  • Trafficking in a fentanyl-related compound, a fifth-degree felony (see ORC 2925.03)
  • Trafficking in cocaine, a fifth-degree felony

What the indictment alleges

According to the Sentinel-Tribune, the indictment alleges that on April 3, 2026, Leu furnished, administered or caused the man to use a fentanyl-related compound, and that the man died on April 4. The indictment also alleges Leu trafficked in a fentanyl-related compound and in less than 5 grams of cocaine on April 3.

The man who died was a former hockey player who had played for the Toledo Storm, the newspaper reported. The Sentinel-Tribune did not publish his name, and the Fostoria Free Press is not naming him.

Separate assault case set for trial

Leu already faces a felonious assault charge, a second-degree felony, in a separate Wood County case. He was indicted on that charge in May.

In that case, Bowling Green police were flagged down March 3 in the 100 block of North Main Street on a report of a man lying on his back, bleeding from his head and mouth, the Sentinel-Tribune reported. Police said downtown camera footage showed a suspect approach the man from the side and punch him, knocking him backward into the street. Officers posted images of the suspect on social media and identified him as Leu. According to court documents, the man needed two head staples and reconstructive jaw surgery.

Leu failed to appear for a pretrial hearing in August, according to the newspaper. He was back in court in October on the failure-to-appear matter, and bond was set at his own recognizance. A final pretrial in the assault case is set for Nov. 30, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 16.

Everyone named in this article is charged and presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An indictment is a formal charge, not a finding of guilt.

Anyone with information on Leu’s whereabouts can contact local law enforcement.

Sources:
Sentinel-Tribune, “Toledo man indicted for involuntary manslaughter,” Oct. 22, 2026
Ohio Revised Code sections 2903.04, 2925.02 and 2925.03 (codes.ohio.gov)

Fostoria News Video shows police car with lights during a hit-and-run investigation in East Toledo.

TOLEDO | Video Clears Driver First Linked to Fatal East Toledo Hit-and-Run; Police Still Seeking Car That Killed Nate La Belle, 21

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Fostoria News: Police car light bar, with headline: Video Clears Driver; Police Still Seek Car in Fatal Hit-and-Run

A police car light bar (generic file photo). Photo: Tellyaddict / Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

TOLEDO- Toledo police say the car first linked to a fatal East Toledo hit-and-run was not involved, and the driver who struck and killed 21-year-old Nate La Belle is still being sought.

La Belle, a young father, was riding a Veo electric scooter on Main Street near 4th Street on Sept. 20 when he was hit by a vehicle that kept going, WTOL 11 reported.

What changed

Investigators first believed a green Dodge Challenger driven by Heladio Contreras was involved, after learning it had crashed near where La Belle was found, according to a supplemental Toledo police crash report obtained by WTOL. Surveillance video from a Main Street market later showed two separate crashes. The report describes the car that hit La Belle only as a dark blue or black four-door sedan that fled the scene.

“The green Dodge Challenger was not involved. No description of the potential suspect vehicle is available to provide at this time,” police spokesperson Prince Flores told WTOL on Friday.

Contreras told WTOL he lost control in heavy rain, hit a pole and left because he panicked as people blamed him. His attorney was told by police the two crashes happened about 90 seconds apart, he said. He said he turned himself in within two days and has received daily threats online. “Thank you for clearing my name,” he said of police.

Family wants answers

“We want whoever is responsible for my son’s death to pay, no matter who it is,” La Belle’s mother, Shannon La Belle, told WTOL.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111 or contact the Toledo Police Department.

Sources

WTOL 11 Investigates: Driver initially linked to fatal east Toledo hit-and-run cleared after surveillance video reveals another vehicle (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/investigations/11-investigates/driver-initially-linked-to-fatal-east-toledo-hit-and-run-cleared-after-surveillance-video-reveals-another-vehicle-innocent-proven/512-3fb70322-2beb-48ba-8ecf-567745292d13
Toledo Police Department (statement via spokesperson Prince Flores, to WTOL 11) – https://toledopolice.com/
Featured image: Police Light-Bar, Tellyaddict, Wikimedia Commons (public domain) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Police_Light-Bar.jpg

Fostoria News Toledo police camera and solar panel fence with Free Press logo.

TOLEDO | Incoming Police Chief Kevin Braun Takes Over Nov. 1, Defends Flock Cameras as Council Weighs Ending Contract

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Fostoria News: A Flock Safety license plate reader camera on a pole, with headline: New Toledo Chief Braun Defends Flock Cameras

A Flock Safety license plate reader camera (file photo, not in Toledo). Photo: Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

TOLEDO- Toledo will have a new police chief Nov. 1, and he is making the case to keep the city’s Flock license plate reader cameras as city council weighs ending them.

Chief Michael Troendle is retiring Nov. 1, and Assistant Chief Kevin Braun, a Toledo native who joined the department in 2000 and has worked his way up from sergeant, will take over, 13 Action News reported.

Priorities

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel here. We need to expand and grow on the progress that we’ve made,” Braun said. He named professionalism, officer wellness and recruiting as priorities. The department will start 2027 with just under 600 officers, and he would like to reach 650, though budget cuts have shrunk recent academy classes.

The Flock debate

Braun called the cameras “by far the most useful tool that we have ever had on this department,” saying detectives use them in just about every case, WTOL 11 reported. “I see both sides of the debate, but strictly from a policing perspective and a public safety perspective, it would be so detrimental to lose that tool,” he said.

Resolution R-435-26 would urge the mayor to end the city’s use of Flock and avoid new agreements, renewals or extensions. Its sponsors cite privacy, civil liberties, data security, data retention and oversight concerns, including collecting information on people not suspected of any crime. On Tuesday, the resolution did not get the nine votes needed for immediate consideration, which did not decide the issue, and a vote is expected within two weeks.

Council also approved a request Sept. 22 for an audit of how the cameras are used, including searches by city employees, access by outside agencies and controls meant to catch misuse. At least seven Flock cameras in the Toledo area have been vandalized in recent months, WTOL reported.

Council agendas and legislation are posted on the Toledo City Council page. Department information is on the Toledo Police Department website.

Sources

13 Action News (WTVG): New Toledo police chief set to take over Nov. 1 (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/24/new-toledo-police-chief-set-take-over-nov-1/
WTOL 11: Incoming Toledo police chief supports continued use of Flock cameras (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/toledo-police-kevin-braun-defends-flock-cameras-city-council-weighs-ending-city-agreements/512-3986d76b-1cd4-4720-baa6-6ae8dfeebe48
Toledo City Council – https://toledo.oh.gov/government/city-council
Toledo Police Department – https://toledopolice.com/
Featured image: Flock Safety ALPR Camera, Tony Webster, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flock_Safety_ALPR_Camera_(53833285849).jpg

A blue U.S. Postal Service collection box, with headline: Suspicious Package Meant for Kaptur's Toledo Office Intercepted

TOLEDO | DEVELOPING: Package With Suspicious Substance Meant for Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s Toledo Office Intercepted; FBI, Postal Inspectors Investigating

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

A blue U.S. Postal Service collection box, with headline: Suspicious Package Meant for Kaptur's Toledo Office Intercepted

TOLEDO — A package containing a suspicious substance that was meant for U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s office in Toledo was intercepted before it could be delivered, her office said Friday, Oct. 23.

Kaptur, a Democrat who represents Ohio’s 9th Congressional District, was told this week that her northwest Ohio office was the intended recipient, according to a statement from her office. The office said the package was similar to others reported at congressional offices in Ohio and across the country.

Because earlier packages had made national news, mail for the office was already being held at a local postal facility as a precaution, and that is where the package was stopped, said Ben Kamens, Kaptur’s communications director.

“We take this matter extremely seriously, and will continue to work with the Postal Inspector and both local and Federal authorities as the investigation into this package and others across the country continue,” Kamens said. “Acts of terror, harm, and intimidation have no place in our democracy and cannot be lightly dismissed.”

The office thanked the Postal Service’s inspectors for their quick response and for protecting the letter carrier, staff and constituents. Kaptur’s Washington and northwest Ohio offices remain open and fully operating, the statement said.

Kaptur’s office has not said what the substance was, and no one has been publicly identified or charged.

Part of a national investigation

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating “a series of suspicious mailings sent to various addresses nationwide, including Secretary of State offices and their related election offices, and congressional offices,” the FBI’s Cleveland office said in a statement to 13 Action News. “Some of the letters contained an unknown substance,” the FBI said, adding that it is working to identify whoever sent them.

In a public service announcement issued Friday, the FBI and Postal Inspection Service said letters with suspicious substances have been mailed to elected officials, secretaries of state and election offices, and other election-related groups. “To date, no hazardous material has been identified; however, laboratory testing remains ongoing,” the alert says. The agencies said they are working to intercept more letters before they are delivered.

WTOL 11 reported that the packages appear to have targeted both Democrats and Republicans, and that the U.S. Capitol Police are also investigating.

If you get suspicious mail

The FBI advises anyone who finds mail with an unknown substance to:

  • Call 911.
  • Leave the item where it is. Do not shake it, open it further or blow on it.
  • Leave the room, close the door and keep others out.
  • Wash your hands and any exposed skin with soap and cool water. Do not use hand sanitizer or bleach.
  • Report it to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.

Constituents can still reach Kaptur’s office through kaptur.house.gov or by calling the local office at 419-259-7500.

This is a developing story. FFP will update it as investigators release more information.

Sources

Office of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur: Statement on suspicious package intended for local NW Ohio congressional office (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-office-statement-suspicious-package-intended-local-nw-ohio
FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (IC3) public service announcement I-102326-2-PSA (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA261023-2
13 Action News (WTVG): Package with suspicious substance intended for Kaptur’s office intercepted by USPS (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/23/suspicious-package-intercepted-before-being-delivered-rep-kaptur-office/
WTOL 11: Marcy Kaptur’s office among congressional offices targeted by suspicious packages (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/marcy-kapturs-office-among-congressional-offices-targeted-by-suspicious-packages/512-dcb24a37-cee2-4467-88f4-653cc646a119
U.S. Postal Inspection Service – https://www.uspis.gov/

Downtown Toledo skyline along the Maumee River, with headline: The Blade Files Notice to Close Dec. 31; 116 Jobs at Stake

TOLEDO | DEVELOPING: The Blade Files State Notice to Stop Publishing Dec. 31; 116 Workers Face Layoffs Unless a Buyer Steps In

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Author: FFP Ai Bot

Downtown Toledo skyline along the Maumee River, with headline: The Blade Files Notice to Close Dec. 31; 116 Jobs at Stake

TOLEDO — The Blade, Toledo’s daily newspaper for more than 190 years, has formally notified the state that it will stop publishing on Dec. 31 and permanently lay off 116 employees, unless efforts to sell the paper succeed first.

The notice, filed Friday, Oct. 23, under the federal and Ohio Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) laws, is posted on the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services’ list of layoff and closure notices. A stamp on the two-page letter filed with the state shows it was received at 1:46 p.m. Friday.

“The plight of local journalism and financial losses resulted in the closure of the Toledo Blade,” the letter states.

What the notice says

  • Last day of publication: The Blade, a division of Block Communications Inc., “will cease publication on December 31, 2026,” and the action is meant to be permanent.
  • Layoffs: 116 employees will be laid off during a 14-day period starting Dec. 31. They will have no bumping or reemployment rights.
  • Where: The letter lists the company’s facilities at 2700 Oregon Road and 6507 Fairfield Drive in Northwood.
  • Unions: Affected workers are represented by three unions: the Toledo Newspaper Guild, CWA Local 34043, which covers editorial, advertising, circulation, marketing and business employees; Teamsters Local 20, which covers circulation drivers, casual workers and vehicle mechanics; and IBEW Local 8, which covers electrical and maintenance work.
  • Can it be stopped? The letter says “effects bargaining, severance pay and/or possible sale of the Company” are the steps being taken “to mitigate or avoid the closure.”

The state’s WARN notice list shows the filing as a closure affecting 116 workers.

How it got here

Block Communications first told employees in early September that the paper would close Dec. 31 if it was not sold by then. “The financial losses The Blade has endured for years are simply not sustainable,” the company’s chief operating officer, Jodi Miehls, wrote in an email to the union, the Columbia Journalism Review reported.

The announcement came after Guild members voted 46-25 in late August to reject a proposed two-year contract. The union said the proposal would have cut severance in half for its most experienced members, ended seniority protections and allowed outsourcing of Guild work, including the use of artificial intelligence without protections for journalists, according to a Sept. 8 statement from The NewsGuild-CWA. WTOL 11 reported that the guild has said it is willing to work with any prospective buyer committed to local journalism.

“Blade workers would welcome new ownership that shares our commitment to local news as well as to the people of Toledo,” Toledo NewsGuild President Mac Arnold said in that statement.

Is there a buyer?

No buyer has been announced. Block Communications CEO Allan Block declined to discuss whether the company had received interest, telling the Columbia Journalism Review, “I’m not at liberty to talk about that now.”

Earlier this year, Block Communications planned to close its other major paper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, before selling its assets to the nonprofit Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, 13 Action News reported. Venetoulis CEO Bob Cohn suggested in a statement to the Columbia Journalism Review that the group was unlikely to buy The Blade, saying it was focused on its papers in Maryland and western Pennsylvania.

WARN rules generally require employers with 100 or more workers to give notice at least 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff.

The Blade was founded in 1835 and won the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting. If no sale happens, Toledo would lose its daily newspaper at the end of the year.

This is a developing story. FFP will update it if a buyer is announced or the company changes its plans.

Sources

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: The Blade WARN notice letter (received Oct. 23, 2026) – https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/jfs.ohio.gov/warn/WARN%202026/The_Blade.pdf
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: 2026 WARN notice list – https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/raw/upload/jfs.ohio.gov/2026/2026-warn-notice.csv
WTOL 11: The Blade files WARN notice, plans Dec. 31 closure affecting 116 employees (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/the-blade-files-warn-notice-plans-dec-31-closure-affecting-116-employees/512-a5663edc-053e-48ca-81b3-34d8939c387d
13 Action News (WTVG): Toledo Blade slated to end publication at end of year (Oct. 23, 2026) – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/23/toledo-blade-slated-end-publication-end-year-more-than-100-employee-layoffs-expected/
Columbia Journalism Review: The Blade’s Shocking, Inevitable News – https://www.cjr.org/news/toledo-blade-shocking-inevitable-news-block-communications-closure-layoffs-bci-john-allan-ohio-newsguild-pittsburgh-post-gazette-baltimore-banner.php
The NewsGuild-CWA: Statement from the Toledo NewsGuild (Sept. 8, 2026) – https://newsguild.org/statement-from-the-toledo-newsguild-on-block-communications-decision-to-cease-operations-of-the-blade/

Illustration of a railroad crossing with lowered gates, freight cars and a fire engine, with the headline: Train Derails on Toledo's East Manhattan Boulevard; No Injuries

TOLEDO | DEVELOPING: CSX Locomotive, Two Rail Cars Derail on East Manhattan Boulevard; No Injuries, No Spill Reported

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Illustration of a railroad crossing with lowered gates, freight cars and a fire engine, with the headline: Train Derails on Toledo's East Manhattan Boulevard; No Injuries

Author: FFP Ai Bot

[UPDATED 10/23/26 10:10 PM] Toledo police now say a CSX locomotive and two rail cars derailed, not four rail cars as first reported. CSX estimates East Manhattan Boulevard will stay closed between Suder and New York avenues for two to three days, and the closure also affects Wallace Boulevard. The locomotive was carrying about 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel, and its tanks appear intact, Toledo Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief John Kaminski said, according to WTOL 11.

TOLEDO — A CSX locomotive and two rail cars came off the tracks in a train derailment on East Manhattan Boulevard in north Toledo late Friday afternoon, Oct. 23, and no one was hurt, according to Toledo police. Early reports had put the number at four rail cars.

The derailment happened in the 3000 block of Manhattan Boulevard, near the tracks by Detwiler Ditch. Toledo police and fire crews were called shortly after 4 p.m., WTOL 11 reported, and East Manhattan Boulevard was shut down in both directions at the crossing.

The train’s conductor got off safely, a Toledo Fire and Rescue spokesperson told 13 Action News (WTVG). The spokesperson said fire crews were working to find out what was inside the affected cars.

A Toledo police officer at the scene told 13 Action News that no chemicals were spilled. Police expect to keep part of the tracks closed for some time. It’s not clear when the crossing will reopen; 13 Action News reported that clearing a similar derailment in the past took about two days.

What we know so far

  • Location: 3000 block of East Manhattan Boulevard, north Toledo, near Detwiler Ditch
  • Time: shortly after 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23
  • Off the tracks: a CSX locomotive and two rail cars, according to Toledo police (early reports said four rail cars)
  • Injuries: none reported; the conductor got off safely
  • Spills: none, according to a Toledo police officer at the scene
  • Cause: not yet known

The train is operated by CSX, WTOL 11 reported. Officials have not said what caused the derailment or what the cars were carrying. In May, four rail cars on a Canadian National train derailed near the West Manhattan Boulevard crossing at New York Avenue, blocking that crossing overnight. Friday’s derailment involved a CSX train.

Advice for drivers: Expect East Manhattan Boulevard to stay closed at the tracks near Detwiler Ditch, and plan another route. Updates may come from Toledo Fire and Rescue and the Toledo Police Department.

This is a developing story. FFP will update it as officials release more information. Last updated 5:40 p.m. ET Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.

Original reporting by WTOL 11 and 13 Action News (WTVG). Featured image is an AI-generated illustration and does not show the actual scene.

Sources

https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/east-manhattan-boulevard-railroad-train-derailment/512-d4ced6ba-9ea6-4c2a-bb57-01a7ce06d721
https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/23/train-derails-toledo-near-manhattan-no-injuries-reported/
https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/train-derailment-blocks-rail-crossing-in-toledo-overnight-manhattan-boulevard/512-f8772f6e-ddb2-483a-9324-d65694fbb4dd
https://toledo.oh.gov/departments/toledo-fire-rescue
https://www.toledopolice.com/

Illustration of a fog-covered chemical tank terminal with emergency vehicles and barricades, with headline: Toledo Residents Can Go Home; EPA Monitoring Continues

TOLEDO | Chemical Leak Evacuations Lifted; Residents Can Go Home as EPA Ends Air Monitoring

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Illustration of a fog-covered chemical tank terminal with emergency vehicles and barricades, with headline: Toledo Residents Can Go Home; EPA Monitoring Continues

Author: FFP Ai Bot

[UPDATED 10/29/26 10:30 AM]

Update: MC Tank Transport, the company whose Progress Avenue terminal was the source of the leak, has set up a claims reporting line for people and businesses that believe they suffered losses because of the incident. The number is 888-271-0577. In a statement dated Oct. 27, the company said “all claims will be given serious consideration and review” and apologized “for the worry and hardship this has caused.”

The City of Toledo lists the same number on its incident page, which says impacted residents can file a claim with MC Tank. Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said he expects the company to honor that commitment and that the city will keep pressing for accountability, 13 Action News reported. The mayor also said the city has been documenting its own response costs and is looking at options to recover them from the company, Spectrum News reported.

A Toledo attorney interviewed by WTOL 11 advised residents to keep receipts and document expenses such as hotel stays, food and missed work, and said people with only out-of-pocket costs may want to try the company’s claims process first. Three proposed class-action lawsuits have also been filed against MC Tank Transport and its parent company, Kenan Advantage Group.

The Toledo-Lucas County Health Department’s informational hotline is 419-779-7089, according to the city.

[UPDATED 10/28/26 10:36 AM]

Update: The U.S. EPA has ended its air monitoring and sampling around the MC Tank Transport site in north Toledo. In an update posted at noon Tuesday, Oct. 27, the agency said its monitoring and sampling data had not shown glycidyl methacrylate or other hazardous chemicals above screening levels, and that after reviewing all of the data and consulting with state and local partners it determined monitoring “would not need to continue.” The EPA said it stopped air monitoring and sampling at 11 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, according to its Toledo Glycidyl Methacrylate Release response page.

The Ohio EPA is now the lead agency overseeing the cleanup by the company the EPA calls the potentially responsible party, and the federal EPA said it is leaving the site. The EPA said it will post its mobile TAGA lab’s air sampling data and all other data collected as soon as they are available, along with a map of the route the TAGA lab drove through nearby neighborhoods and commercial areas. On Oct. 26, the EPA said the damaged tank had been moved into secondary containment and will be monitored on site until a disposal plan is developed.

Separately, the City of Toledo said a strong odor reported by the Oregon Fire Department on Oct. 27 appears to be coming from a landfill in Oregon and is not related to the chemical release, according to the city’s incident page.

[UPDATED 10/23/26 9:59 PM]

Update: At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Toledo Fire and Rescue approved a site safety plan and turned the MC Tank Transport site at 1266 Progress Ave. over to its owners to finish the cleanup under U.S. EPA oversight, according to the City of Toledo’s incident page. The evacuation order itself was lifted at noon.

The EPA’s mobile air lab, the Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA), has arrived in Toledo and started real-time air sampling around the community, the city and the EPA said. The EPA said residents may see the lab moving at about 5 mph through residential and commercial areas, and its readings will help the fire department decide whether air monitoring needs to continue. The city has also posted preliminary air monitoring data on its incident page; it notes the data has not finished quality review and may change.

Officials have attributed the leak to an employee error. The mayor said a company employee “introduced a temperature” to the tank while transferring the liquid, setting off the chemical reaction. The EPA said its enforcement team will work with the state to investigate the cause. ProMedica said it treated about 60 patients in the metro area during the incident.

TOLEDO — Every evacuation order from the north Toledo chemical leak has been lifted, and the last people kept out of their homes can go back, city and federal officials said Friday, Oct. 23. Glycidyl methacrylate, the chemical that escaped from a tank at MC Tank Transport on Progress Avenue, is no longer being detected in the air, but U.S. EPA crews will stay in the area to keep monitoring.

“The final 152 people who faced an evacuation order can now go back home,” Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said at a news conference Friday, WTOL 11 reported. “We’re finally able to return to some level of normalcy here in our community.”

When and why the order ended

  • Lifted at noon: Toledo Fire and Rescue lifted the quarter-mile evacuation zone at 12 p.m. Friday, according to the City of Toledo’s incident page. The site at 1266 Progress Ave. was turned over to the company for cleanup, with U.S. EPA oversight, at 7:30 p.m. 13 Action News reported the order ended late Friday morning.
  • Tank empty: The tank finished venting late Thursday night and is now empty, the mayor said. “It did take longer than we thought it would, longer than we wanted it to, frankly,” he said, according to 13 Action News.
  • No hazards found: Hazmat crews found no detectable hazards when they went back into the site, and conditions were judged safe to hand over for the next phase of cleanup, the city said.
  • Site still being watched: “At this time, we do feel confident that the site is safe,” Toledo Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Blake Molnar said. “However, we want to maintain and be certain that the protection to the community is not compromised at any point as we transfer this over.” He said officials are waiting on a safety plan from the cleanup contractor, 13 Action News reported. WTOL 11 reported the plan was expected later Friday.

EPA monitoring continues

U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel said EPA crews will remain in the area to keep monitoring, and that glycidyl methacrylate is no longer being detected in the air, WTOL 11 reported. She said five EPA on-scene coordinators worked the incident and that the chemical breaks down quickly in air.

Eight monitoring sites remain set up around the area, WTOL 11 reported. The EPA is also bringing in its Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer, a mobile lab known as the TAGA bus, for more detailed air testing. 13 Action News reported it was expected to arrive Friday. The EPA posts updates on its Toledo Glycidyl Methacrylate Release response page.

Brian Kelly, an EPA on-scene coordinator, said experts had estimated the chemical reaction would last 24 to 36 hours, and it ran about 30 hours, WTOL 11 reported.

The mayor said data the city gathered during the incident would be released by the end of the day Friday. He said nothing seen so far shows the readings ever reached a toxic level, 13 Action News reported.

What caused it

Officials said the leak was a mistake. The mayor said an employee of MC Tank Transport “introduced a temperature” to the tank while trying to transfer the liquid, which set off a chemical reaction. “This was a mistake made by an employee of the company,” Kapszukiewicz said, according to 13 Action News. WTOL 11 reported the mayor said the company has accepted responsibility, and that talks about accountability will now “begin in earnest.”

How many people were affected

At its largest, the 1-mile evacuation zone covered about 1,000 people, the mayor said. The half-mile zone covered about 300, and the 3-mile shelter-in-place order covered about 5,400, WTOL 11 reported.

Dr. Brian Kaminski, ProMedica’s vice president of medical affairs and safety, said the hospital system treated about 60 patients in the metro area. Almost all were released, and a small number were admitted, WTOL 11 reported. The mayor said none of the cases were life-threatening.

Going home: what residents should do

Dr. Karim Baroudi, commissioner of the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, pointed people to the return-home guidance on the city’s website. The health department’s evacuation return guidance advises:

  • Ventilate: Open windows and doors, on opposite sides of the house if you can, and follow official guidance before running heating or air conditioning.
  • Clean: Wipe counters, tables, floors and other hard surfaces with warm water and dish soap. Wipe car door handles with a wet paper towel before using them. Do not mix cleaning products.
  • Check food: Throw out uncovered food and produce left outside or on counters. Wipe sealed cans and jars before opening. When in doubt, throw it out.
  • Wash clothing that may have been exposed before wearing it.
  • Protect pets: Throw out pet food left out, wash bowls, replace outdoor water and call a veterinarian if a pet shows symptoms.
  • Watch your health: If symptoms start while you are inside, go to fresh air and seek medical advice. Call 911 for severe trouble breathing.

The Ohio State University Extension office still recommends throwing away produce or crops that were outdoors within the old 3-mile shelter-in-place zone, and the city plans to clean playgrounds in that area, the city said. Toledo tap water was never contaminated, according to the city.

Baroudi said the chemical is heavier than air and is not expected to have traveled far. “We consider this an isolated incident at this point,” he said, WTOL 11 reported.

Phone numbers

  • Health department information hotline: 419-779-7089
  • Toledo-Lucas County Health Department: 419-213-4100
  • Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
  • Shelter help: The emergency shelter closed Wednesday night after evacuees found other places to stay. Anyone who still needs a place to stay can call 1-800-RED-CROSS or 211, the city said.
  • Emergencies: 911

Timeline

  • Tue., Oct. 20, 10:48 p.m.: 1-mile evacuation ordered around 1266 Progress Ave.
  • Wed., Oct. 21, 4:24 a.m.: 3-mile shelter-in-place ordered.
  • Wed., Oct. 21, 5 p.m.: Evacuation cut to a half mile; shelter-in-place lifted.
  • Thu., Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m.: Evacuation cut to a quarter mile.
  • Thu., Oct. 22, late night: Tank finished venting.
  • Fri., Oct. 23, noon: Evacuation lifted.
  • Fri., Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.: Site turned over to the company for cleanup, with U.S. EPA oversight.

Source: City of Toledo.

Earlier coverage: Toledo chemical leak evacuation zone cut to a quarter mile

Sources

  • https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/toledo-mayor-epa-admin-press-conference-chemical-leak/512-fd24ecfe-cbd0-46ce-a6e7-bad9e8742283
  • https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/23/investigators-city-leaders-hold-news-conference-giving-update-chemical-release/
  • https://toledo.oh.gov/news/2026/10/22/hazmat-evacuation-in-north-toledo
  • https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=17475
  • https://lucascountyhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/GMA_Evacuation-Return-Guidance_10212026.pdf
  • https://apnews.com/article/toledo-chemical-release-ohio-hazmat-bdb36e0f9153a1a4450f73ae2321cdc7
  • City of Toledo: Hazardous Materials Evacuation Orders Lifted (updated Oct. 23, 2026, 7:32 p.m.) – https://toledo.oh.gov/news/2026/10/23/hazmat-evacuation-in-north-toledo
  • U.S. EPA: Toledo Glycidyl Methacrylate Release site profile (Oct. 27, 2026, 12 p.m. update) – https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=17475
  • WTOL 11: EPA ends air monitoring after north Toledo chemical leak – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/epa-ends-air-monitoring-after-north-toledo-chemical-leak/512-b600dcd5-6417-47a1-81c1-3cd328b78f3c
  • 13 Action News: EPA no longer monitoring leak site as glycidyl methacrylate no longer detected – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/28/epa-no-longer-monitoring-leak-site-glycidyl-methacrylate-no-longer-detected/
  • City of Toledo: Hazardous Materials Evacuation Orders Lifted (Oct. 26 page) – https://toledo.oh.gov/news/2026/10/26/hazmat-evacuation-in-north-toledo
  • City of Toledo: MC Tank Terminal Chemical Release Cleanup Underway (Oct. 28, 2026) – https://toledo.oh.gov/news/2026/10/28/hazmat-evacuation-in-north-toledo
  • MC Tank Transport Inc.: Statement (Oct. 27, 2026) – https://www.thekag.com/wp-content/uploads/MC-Tank-Statement-10-27-26.pdf
  • 13 Action News: Claims line created for North Toledo chemical leak (Oct. 29, 2026) – https://www.13abc.com/2026/10/29/claims-line-created-north-toledo-chemical-leak/
  • WTOL 11: North Toledo neighbors seek compensation for chemical leak-related costs as company launches claims process – https://www.wtol.com/article/news/local/north-toledo-neighbors-seek-compensation-for-chemical-leak-related-costs-as-company-launches-claims-process/512-b4a954b6-25ba-4672-816d-3881a9f2159f
  • Spectrum News 1: Toledo mayor says EPA no longer monitoring leak site (Oct. 29, 2026) – https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/toledo/news/2026/10/29/toledo-gives-update-on-chemical-leak-cleanup
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