VIENNA, Ohio -- The southbound lanes of state Route 11 between state Route 82 and Interstate 80 will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time after an accident Tuesday morning.

The northbound lanes of state Route 11 are open to traffic.

Earlier today, officials said 230 homes were evacuated and they feared a bridge could collapse after two crashes in Trumbull County, north of Youngstown, early Tuesday.

The Ohio State Patrol said that a cargo truck hit a bridge overpass on Route 11 north of the Niles-Vienna overpass before 5 a.m.

"We had a couple crash events this morning. A commercial vehicle had its boom equipment in the upright position traveling south on Route 11. That boom equipment hit the overpass," said Lt. Joe Dragovich.

In that beam was a 4- to 6-inch natural gas line which was punctured, causing a mass evacuation of the neighboring areas. People from 230 homes were quickly told and go to the Vienna Fire Station on Route 193.

The crash caused a lot of debris. One car went left of center to avoid the mess and hit a tractor-trailer carrying liquid propane head on.

The driver of the cargo truck was killed and several others were brought to Saint Elizabeth's Hospital with serious injuries, officials said.

The gas was shut off about three hours later and the evacuees were told it was safe to go back home.

Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere said he believes the bridge will have to be removed, because a major support beam was badly damaged.

Ohio Department of Transportation engineers will have to look over the span.