AMHERST TWP. — A minivan was completely destroyed in a fire that shut down the turnpike briefly this morning, according to the Highway Patrol.

Trooper Phil Ralston said the driver was eastbound at mile marker 137, which is between state Route 58 and Baumhart Road, about 8 a.m. when the Chevrolet Venture mini van, which was pulling a camper trailer caught on fire.

Another driver saw the flames and alerted the driver about the fire, and he was able to pull over, Ralston said.

The van became fully engulfed in flames, Ralston said, and is a total loss. The camper trailer had only minor damage. Ralston blamed the fire on a vehicle defect.

Firefighters from South Amherst and Florence Township responded.

Ralston said the eastbound lanes of the turnpike were completely closed for about 25 minutes, and one lane remained blocked for about an hour.

SHEFFIELD TWP. — LifeFlight is transporting a victim from a two-car accident that happened at North Ridge Road and Elyria Avenue in Sheffield Township a little before 10 this morning.

The woman, who is eight months pregnant, was eastbound on North Ridge in a silver Ford Taurus, according to State Highway Patrol Sgt. Charles Gullett.

Witnesses saw the Taurus run a red light and strike a PT Cruiser that was northbound on Elyria Avenue, he said.

It was unclear whether anyone else was hurt.

Rescue workers cut the door off the PT Cruiser, and both vehicles had extensive damage.

ELYRIA — The State Highway Patrol has identified the man whose body was found hanging near the turnpike and Gulf Road yesterday.

The body of Michael T. Edgell, 47, of Elyria, was found was found hanging by his belt from a fence by a motorcyclist who had stopped to get out of the rain.

According to Lt. Judy Neel of the State Highway Patrol, the patrol is “pretty sure it was suicide” but is awaiting an official decision from the coroner.

The body was found “partially decomposed” and near a fence and an overpass, according to the Highway Patrol.

Neel couldn’t say for sure how long Edgell’s body had been there, but said “it’s more than a few days and less than a few weeks.”

Neel said no missing persons report had been filed on Edgell.

Firefighters were on the scene at 2504 Reid Ave. this morning.

LORAIN — A fire pretty much completely damaged a home at West 25th Street and Reid Avenue this morning, according to Fire Capt. Jeffrey Fenn.

The home, a pink house on the southwest corner of the intersection at 2504 Reid, had damage to the entire structure. The fire was reported about 7:20 a.m.

No one was hurt, according to Fenn, and neighbors said the home had been vacant.

Fenn said the 2 1/2-story home will likely be considered a total loss because it was valued at only $10,000, and repairs will likely come close to that amount or exceed it.

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Fenn said a cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and the department’s Fire Prevention Bureau is investigating.

Check back at Chroniclet.com for more on this story as it becomes available.