Early this morning, an incident on Interstate 71 South near Greenlawn Avenue in Columbus escalated from a routine traffic stop to a full-blown pursuit, ultimately resulting in an accident and temporary highway closure. According to a report from NBC4I, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office deputies, alongside Columbus Police Department officers, attempted to stop a vehicle near Hollywood Casino around 4 a.m., after which the driver attempted an escape and collided with a semi-truck.
The suspect's attempt to flee resulted in tangible disruptions, with I-71's southbound exit ramps at Greenlawn Avenue shut down, as disclosed by Columbus Police. The obstruction also temporarily closed access to the interstate both ways from Interstate 70, though the northbound lanes were later reopened around 5:30 a.m. The lanes remained restricted for traffic until about 6:40 a.m. The chase began when the suspect purportedly rammed into a Franklin County Sheriff's Office cruiser, prompting the hot pursuit.
Detailed coverage from FOX28 Columbus mentioned no injuries among deputies or officers involved in the incident. The driver of the semi-truck impacted by the suspect's vehicle was also unharmed. As for the suspect, they were taken to Grant Medical Center and have been reported to be in stable condition.
The public was informed of detour options, as traffic was heavily delayed due to the incident. WBNS provided insight into alternate routes, suggesting drivers coming from I-70 could detour via W Broad St to Central Ave to US-62 to Frank Rd and then back onto I-71 SB or take US-23 to SR-104 to I-71 SB. No information has been released yet regarding what charges the driver will face after this high-speed pursuit and crash.
