A 17-year-old from Powell is dead after the car they were driving veered off Klondike Road near Freshwater Road, struck a tree and caught fire Friday night. The teenager, whose identity has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to NBC4 WCMH-TV, the teen was driving a 2022 Kia Forte southeast on Klondike Road near Freshwater Road when the vehicle left the road, hit a tree and caught fire. The Ohio State Highway Patrol has not determined whether the teenager was wearing a seatbelt, and the crash remains under investigation, the station reports.
The crash happened around 9:30 p.m., per CW Columbus, which described the vehicle involved as an SUV, differing from NBC4's account identifying it as a Kia Forte. CW Columbus also reports that neither drugs nor alcohol are thought to have played a factor in the crash.
Investigation Continues Into Cause
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The station's report notes that the teen's name has not been made public, and the exact circumstances leading up to the crash remain unclear.
The Columbus Dispatch also reported on the fatal crash, noting that the teenager died in a single-vehicle wreck in Delaware County. No additional information about the driver's identity or the cause of the crash has been confirmed by authorities at this time.
