A late-night crash on Interstate 480 in Twinsburg left one person dead Tuesday after a vehicle rolled and an occupant was thrown out, according to police. The wreck choked off eastbound traffic near the 37-mile marker and sent multiple people to the hospital.
Twinsburg police told Cleveland 19 News the crash happened around 9:15 p.m. when an eastbound vehicle was hit near mile marker 37, rolled onto its roof and ejected a person inside. While the vehicle was still on its roof, a second eastbound driver hit it again and flipped it back upright. Officers later found the ejected victim lying on the roadway and pronounced them dead at the scene. Two other people were cut out of the damaged vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital, and a third person from another vehicle was treated at the scene and transported by EMS, police said.
Why ejections are often deadly
Being thrown from a vehicle is among the most dangerous things that can happen in a crash. The American College of Surgeons reports that a large majority of completely ejected, unrestrained occupants do not survive, and that seat belts dramatically improve those odds. According to federal safety guidance, lap-and-shoulder belts significantly cut the risk of fatal injury and help keep people from being ejected in rollovers and other severe crashes (Ohio State Highway Patrol). The state agency has also stressed seat-belt enforcement as Ohio’s observed usage has bounced around in recent years.
Investigation
Twinsburg police said the crash is still under investigation and it is not yet clear whether road conditions played a role. The victim’s name has not been released. For the initial account and ongoing updates, see Cleveland 19 News.
