An early morning multi-vehicle accident on I-90 in Concord Township resulted in a temporary closure of the roadway, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The incident, which involved four tractor-trailers and two cars, occurred at around 10:05 am yesterday, January 27, beginning with deputies attending to a disabled vehicle. The situation escalated as additional vehicles lost control, leading to a shutdown of I-90 Eastbound near the 199-mile marker for approximately three hours.
Lake County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Frank Leonbruno's statement, issued via social media, indicated that the series of unfortunate events unfolded just west of State Route 44, where deputies were already present on scene. The press release, which the sheriff posted on Facebook, highlighted that "multiple vehicles lost control in the eastbound lanes of I-90 causing a multi-vehicle accident." No injuries from the initial accident were reported, and the cause is still under investigation, with unsafe speed given the road and weather conditions cited as a possible factor.
While the roadway was closed, the Concord Township Fire Department responded to a separate medical emergency at the I-90 eastbound rest area. This incident, unrelated to the traffic pile-up, required a motorist to be transported to the hospital for treatment. The distinct nature of this emergency underlines the complexity of the morning's events.
Recovery efforts on the highway were extensive, involving vehicle removal by Bob’s Garage and Towing and Interstate Towing, while the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) plowed to clear the roadway once vehicles were out of the way. As stated in the press release, "I-90 was closed for approximately 3 hours to allow for the motor vehicles to be winched out of the snow and removed." In addition to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the Kirtland Hills Police Department and the Mentor Police Department played roles in managing road closures and assisting motorists during the disruption.
