A person in a neon vest had to leap onto I-670’s concrete median Monday morning after a car slammed into a disabled SUV in Columbus’ closed SmartLane. Video of the near miss shows traffic moving through the eastbound corridor as the person appears to realize a second collision is coming and climbs out of the lane’s path.
The crash happened around 5:53 a.m. on eastbound I-670 near U.S. 62, according to a report by WBNS. The station reported that a red SUV had broken down in the SmartLane, followed by a white truck that slowed and tried to merge right. A silver car then traveled in the SmartLane, struck the SUV and tried to get around the truck by moving left.
That maneuver sent the person onto the concrete median barrier, narrowly avoiding the silver car. “People need to pay attention while driving to avoid incidents like this,” Ohio Department of Transportation spokesperson Matt Bruning said, according to WBNS.
A discussion in the Columbus subreddit also drew warnings from drivers who said they had seen vehicles using the lane while it was closed.
Why The I-670 SmartLane Was Closed
The SmartLane is the inside shoulder of eastbound I-670 that can become an additional travel lane during peak periods. The Ohio Department of Transportation says the system uses technology and signs to manage when that shoulder is open for traffic.
On Monday morning, the lane would have displayed red X signs indicating that drivers were not permitted to use it. Bruning described the SmartLane as an emergency breakdown shoulder, making the crash a sharp reminder that a closed shoulder can be occupied by a disabled vehicle or a person dealing with one.
10TV said it contacted the Columbus Division of Police about reported injuries and possible charges, but its report did not include an immediate update. The video nevertheless captures how quickly a routine roadside breakdown can turn into a potentially deadly chain reaction when drivers ignore lane restrictions.
