CLEVELAND — A second person has died following a hazardous materials situation at a trucking company on Union Avenue on Thursday afternoon, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The medical examiner confirmed a man and a woman died after firefighters responded to a trucking company at East 81st Street and Union Avenue for a hazmat situation on Thursday.
The medical examiner has identified the woman as Ashley N. Friedman, 30, of Lorain. The second victim has been identified as 60-year-old Alan Linder.
Both were taken to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center where they died.
A spokesperson for the Cleveland Fire Department said the woman, later identified as Friedman, was cleaning out a semi-trailer tanker when she was overcome. Another worker, later identified as Linder, went in to get her and was also rendered unconscious, according to the spokesperson.
Friedman and Linder were initially transported in critical condition.
Firefighters used breathing apparatuses and a hoist to rescue the two before the hazmat team arrived, authorities said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation into the incident, which involves two separate companies, according to OSHA.
Compliance officers will interview employees and employers to try to determine if any standards were not followed. The investigation could take up to six months, OSHA said.
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