Groton Township, OH : Crash on Ohio Turnpike kills one on Sunday, 14th August, 2016

A young child died and at least seven people people were injured in an accident on the Ohio Turnpike Sunday afternoon after a large commercial truck failed to slow down and hit nine separate vehicles in a construction zone, the Ohio Highway Patrol said. The Ohio Highway Department is investigating the accident on the Ohio Turnpike between U.S. 250 and Ohio 4 that closed the turnpike for hours.

The patrol issued a news release but did not immediately identify the person who died in the accident.

The crash involved 10 vehicles going eastbound in a construction zone. It occurred at mile marker 110.8 at about 2:16 p.m.

The highway patrol news release said a Volvo semi commercial truck failed to keep an adequate distance between itself and the traffic ahead.

“The commercial vehicle proceeded to strike nine separate vehicles ranging from a pickup truck, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars. The nine vehicles struck had slowed down in traffic but had not stopped when the commercial hit them,” the release said.

The seven injured people were taken to Firelands Regional Medical Center in Sandusky and Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, the highway patrol said.

The highway patrol did not identify the driver of the truck.

“Further details and the complete investigation are pending at this time,” the patrol’s news release said.

It said information on possible charges would be given to the Erie County prosecutor. Information on drug or alcohol use is not yet known, the patrol said.

Three medical helicopters were dispatched to the scene. The Groton Township Fire Department responded to the scene to help the Ohio Highway Patrol, and the Margaretta Township Fire Department came to the scene after receiving a call for help from the Groton department.

The patrol said that traffic was backed up both ways on the turnpike but that a westbound lane was kept open.

Turnpike workers, helped by the Kokosing Construction Company, removed a barrier wall and was able to get stopped traffic in the construction lane cleared away by about 5 p.m.

The accident backed up traffic for hours, not just on the turnpike, but also on Ohio 4. The turnpike authority stationed employees at the Ohio 4 entrance to tell motorists the turnpike was blocked to the east and that they could only travel west. Likewise, turnpike employees at the U.S. 250 entrance to the turnpike told motorists they could travel east but could not go west.

The turnpike remained for hours. Traffic, including many trucks, backed up in the lane of U.S. 250 providing access to the westbound entrance of Ohio 2 as drivers sought an alternative to the turnpike.

Source :
Crash on Ohio Turnpike kills one