The evening commute through Cleveland's Jennings Freeway corridor turned deadly Tuesday when a multi-vehicle crash on SR-176 southbound near Spring Road killed two people and shut down the highway for hours, authorities said.
The wreck, reported around 4:20 p.m., slammed the brakes on rush-hour traffic as police, firefighters, and EMS teams rushed in, and drivers were pushed onto side streets and alternate routes while southbound lanes stayed closed.
How the collision unfolded
According to Cleveland 19, officers arrived to find three vehicles tangled in the wreckage: a Jeep Patriot, a Ford E-350 van, and a southbound dump truck.
Police told the station the dump truck hit a Jeep that had slowed in traffic, shoving it into the Ford van. The Jeep rolled over and caught fire, while the van slammed into the median and flipped onto its side.
The two people riding in the Jeep were pronounced dead at the scene. Cleveland EMS took the van's drivers, a 71-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, to a nearby hospital for treatment, authorities said. The extent of their injuries was not immediately released.
Ongoing investigation and a troubled stretch of road
State and city investigators are still working to piece together what triggered the chain-reaction crash, and the case remains under active investigation. The Cleveland Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit is leading the probe, city officials told Cleveland 19.
SR-176 has already seen deadly trouble this year. News 5 Cleveland reported a separate fatal crash on the same stretch near Spring Road earlier this month, adding to growing concerns about safety along the Jennings Freeway corridor.
Authorities have not yet released the names or ages of the Jeep's occupants, and no charges have been announced as of the latest update. Investigators said additional details will be shared as they become available.
Drivers were urged to steer clear of SR-176 southbound in the area while crews cleared debris and investigators documented the scene. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash-cam footage to contact the Cleveland Division of Police as the inquiry continues.
