A multiple-vehicle accident Wednesday on the Ohio Turnpike has left three dead and an Ohio Highway Patrol trooper seriously injured.
A heavy snowstorm that swept through northern Ohio Wednesday is blamed for the accident involving more than 80 cars and trucks.
The pileup started on the eastbound lane of the turnpike in Sandusky County, leading to a chain reaction of collisions within two crash zones.
The turnpike was closed for several hours when another set of collisions occurred on the westbound lane as well. Only the center lanes were opened Thursday morning and it will take days to clear the turnpike of the cars and trucks.
Hannah Matheny, 20, of Parma, Ohio, a passenger in a Ford Focus in the initial crash, and commercial vehicle driver Grzegorz A. Piwowarczyk, 42, of Palatine, Ill., were killed.
Janice Robb, 66, of Schererville, Ind., a passenger in a car in the second crash zone was also killed.
Ohio Turnpike accident. 50+ cars involved. 2 fatalities. 1 trooper severely injured. pic.twitter.com/8xpmvV9DdG
— Jennifer Steck (@JSteckWTOL_FOX) March 12, 2014
Ohio Turnpike closed in both directions near Castallia. 40+ cars involved in chain reaction crash pic.twitter.com/AZoth1tXm9
— Jennifer Steck (@JSteckWTOL_FOX) March 12, 2014
Current photo of Ohio Turnpike crash. Semis have yet to be cleared. pic.twitter.com/A57brITST4
— Jordan Wagner (@JWagner11W) March 13, 2014
Highway Patrol Trooper Andrew B. Clouser, 29, was dispatched to the initial crash scheme at 1:25 p.m. Wednesday and was reportedly pinned between two vehicles as the chain reaction crashes continued.
Clouser is listed in “stable but serious condition” after being transferred to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. His injuries are reportedly not life-threatening.
Chris Mock, of Sandusky County Emergency Management Services, said 18 others were injured in the crashes and transported to ProMedica Memorial Hospital in Fremont.
The Toledo area was under Level 3 travel ban because of the heavy, blowing snow, but authorities in the area don’t generally attempt to enforce these bans on the turnpike or freeways.
Image via YouTube