A late-night wrong-way crash on Interstate 270 turned deadly early Thursday on Columbus' northeast side, leaving one driver dead and another fighting for life in the hospital.
Deputies say a Chevrolet Cruze was spotted heading north in the southbound lanes of I-270 just north of Dempsey Road in Blendon Township when it slammed head-on into an Audi A3. The wrong-way driver was rushed to a hospital and later died, while the Audi driver was taken to Mount Carmel East in critical condition.
According to 10TV, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were called out just after 12:45 a.m. Sheriff Dallas Baldwin told investigators the Cruze was traveling north in the southbound lanes when it hit the Audi head-on. The sheriff's office said the wrong-way driver was pronounced dead at the hospital at 1:32 a.m., and the victim's identity has not yet been released.
Why Wrong-Way Crashes Are So Deadly
State transportation officials say wrong-way wrecks are relatively rare compared with the thousands of crashes that happen on Ohio roads every year, but they are far more likely to end in death than typical collisions. To try to curb those head-on hits, the Ohio Department of Transportation has been adding detection systems and upgraded signage at high-risk ramps and using statewide crash data to zero in on where those safety upgrades are most needed, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Investigation And Road Closures
Eastbound lanes of I-270 were shut down beyond State Route 3/Westerville Pike while deputies investigated and cleared the debris, 10TV reports. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.
