UPDATE: Police Chief Offers Details of Grisly Crash

Updated April 2, 6:35 p.m.

Five people were hospitalized after a semi collided with an SUV on State Road at about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to Cuyahoga Falls Police Chief Tom Pozza.

Upon collision, the semi veered off the road and slammed through Alro Steel, located at 4787 State Rd.

After impact, diesel fuel began leaking from the rig and a hazardous materials team, along with the Ohio EPA, were called to the scene to clean up the fuel.

"Falls Fire Capt. George Sewald said three people — including two preschool-age children — were injured in one SUV whose entire side was ripped off in the collision," according to the Akron Beacon Journal. "The children were taken to Akron Children’s Hospital with serious injuries."

The driver also was hospitalized. 

The second SUV sustained substantial rear-end damage, and its driver was hospitalized.

The semi driver also was injured and taken to an area hospital.

Pozza told the Akron Beacon Journal the names of those involved in the crash would not be released until his department and the Summit Metro Crash Response Team — a specialized unit that reconstructs complex accidents — conclude the investigation, likely by next week. 

Pozza explained one SUV rear-ended another in the 4000 block of State Road, propelling the second vehicle into the northbound lane, directly in the path of the oncoming semi.

Following a violent impact, the semi derailed off course and slammed into the steel warehouse.

No Alro employees were injured when the semi crashed through the wall of the local warehouse near Seasons Road. The building will remain closed until the structure is inspected.

Cuyahoga Falls police and fire, Stow police and fire and Valley Fire District were called to the scene. 

According to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department Facebook page, State Road has been reopened.