A high-speed crash on southbound I-270 north of the Easton area shut the highway for hours yesterday afternoon and left the driver dead, turning a busy stretch of the Outerbelt into a wall of brake lights. Emergency crews responded in Blendon Township, where the vehicle rolled and came to rest on its side. The closure snarled traffic near Easton Town Center and forced lengthy detours for afternoon commuters.
Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin told NBC4 that a white 2019 BMW X3 was traveling southbound approaching State Route 161 at a high rate of speed when it lost control, slid off the west side of I-270, struck a wall and a concrete sign support, then rolled onto its side and roof. The driver, who was the only person in the vehicle, was taken to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead, Baldwin said.
Investigation and traffic impacts
According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, all southbound lanes of I-270 were shut down at about 1:35 p.m., creating major backups north of the Easton interchange while deputies and crash investigators worked the scene. Investigators are expected to examine factors such as speed and roadway conditions as they reconstruct the crash. Officials did not immediately release the driver's name.
The shutdown turned a key weekend route into a slow crawl, with drivers forced onto side streets and alternate highways while crews documented the wreckage and cleared debris.
Why this stretch is a problem
Traffic analysts and reporters have repeatedly flagged portions of I-270 as crash-prone, with state trooper data showing clusters of collisions along several sections of the Outerbelt. Hoodline previously examined the corridor in a piece titled I-270's Most Perilous Stretch, noting that ODOT projects and targeted patrols are aimed at reducing dangerous weaving and bottlenecks.
Anyone with information about yesterday's crash is asked to contact the Franklin County Sheriff's Office or call the office's non-emergency line. For current travel information and suggested detours, drivers can check ODOT's OHGO travel hub at OHGO.
