Sweet Disaster: Truck Hauling Gummy Bears Catches Fire on Ohio Highway

Morning Commuters Face Sticky Situation as Candy Cargo Melts on Roadway

NORTHEAST OHIO – A tractor-trailer transporting thousands of pounds of gummy bears caught fire on Interstate 80 early Monday morning, creating a colorful but challenging cleanup operation for emergency crews.

The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when the truck driver noticed smoke coming from the rear axle area of his vehicle. He quickly pulled to the shoulder and evacuated the cab before flames engulfed the trailer containing the sweet cargo.

“I heard a loud pop and saw smoke in my mirrors,” said driver Marcus Johnson, who escaped without injury. “Within minutes, the whole back end was on fire. There was nothing I could do but watch all those gummy bears melt.”

Fire departments from two neighboring communities responded to the scene, where they found the trailer partially collapsed and multicolored liquid candy flowing across the highway.

“It was one of the more unusual fire scenes I’ve encountered,” said Battalion Chief Sarah Reynolds. “The melted candy created some hazardous conditions on the roadway. It’s surprisingly difficult to clean up once it starts to cool and harden.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation closed two eastbound lanes as hazmat teams and cleanup crews worked to remove the sticky residue from the pavement. The closure caused traffic backups extending several miles during the morning rush hour.

Highway patrol officials said preliminary investigation suggests the fire was caused by overheated brakes that ignited the trailer’s rear tires before spreading to the cargo area.

The truck was en route from a candy manufacturing facility in Chicago to a distribution center in Pennsylvania, carrying approximately 40,000 pounds of gummy bears valued at over $100,000.

Cleanup crews used industrial scrapers and pressure washers with hot water to remove the hardened candy from the road surface. The operation continued for nearly six hours before all lanes were reopened shortly after 11 a.m.

“We’ve handled spills of all kinds, but this was definitely a first,” said ODOT spokesperson James Williams. “The sugar caramelized on the hot asphalt, making it particularly difficult to remove. I doubt the road has ever been this clean though—we basically gave it a power wash.”

Some commuters found humor in the situation despite the delays.

“My kids are going to be devastated when they hear about the great gummy bear tragedy of 2025,” joked motorist Rebecca Chen, who was stuck in the resulting traffic. “I told them I was late for work because of melted candy, and they thought I was making it up.”

Wildlife officials will be monitoring the area in the coming days, as the sugary residue that washed into roadside drainage could potentially attract animals.

The trucking company, Midwest Express Shipping, has not yet commented on the incident beyond confirming that their driver is safe and cooperating with authorities in the investigation.