OHIO — One person is dead and another was hospitalized following a multi-vehicle crash early Thursday morning on Interstate 70 in east Columbus.
According to Columbus police, the crash occurred just before 2 a.m. near the interchange of I-70, I-270, and Brice Road, close to Reynoldsburg.
Officers arrived to find two people injured, one critically and one in stable condition. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the critically injured person was pronounced dead at 3:02 a.m.
Investigators said the incident began when an unidentified adult was standing behind a 2003 Hyundai Sonata that had stopped in the left lane of I-70 East.
At the same time, an adult driving a 2006 Saturn S2 in the adjacent lane attempted to pass another vehicle by moving into the left lane.
The Saturn struck the pedestrian and then collided with the back of the Hyundai.
The impact threw the pedestrian over the Hyundai, which then hit the cable median guardrail. The Saturn rotated and came to a stop in the second lane of the highway.
A witness told police that the Hyundai did not appear to have any lights on at the time of the crash.
The Columbus Police Accident Investigation Unit responded to the scene, and all lanes on I-70 East—as well as both exit ramps from I-270 to I-70 East—were closed for nearly four hours. The roadway reopened around 5:45 a.m.
Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.
