A driver troopers said crashed through a barrier wall on I-75 South in Tipp City on Monday night will be cited as the at-fault driver. Here’s the latest:
- The left lanes on I-75 north and south, in the accident zone, will remain closed overnight
- The at-fault southbound driver dropped a cell phone, reached for it and crashed near exit 68
- A pickup truck headed north on I-75 hit debris from the first vehicle and crashed
- Both drivers were treated at a hospital for non-life threatening injuries
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UPDATE @1:57 a.m.: The left lanes on both north and southbound sides will remain closed overnight. Cones are up blocking the lanes, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Crews will be out Tuesday working on repairs.
UPDATE @ 11:45 p.m.: Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol were assisting with directing traffic in the area of the accident, which had the left lanes on north and south I-75 closed. The accident was reported about 7:15 p.m.
Sgt. Vee Witcher said the at-fault driver was traveling at 85 to 95 mph when her SUV crashed through the center of a barrier wall near exit 68 and came to rest on its top.
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Witcher said the state patrol will cite the driver for failure to control for sure, and possibly for speeding and distracted driving.
The names, ages and hometowns of the drivers were not released.
The impact left a gaping hole in the barrier wall, which will be repaired by the Ohio Department of Transportation tonight or Tuesday morning, Witcher said.
Ironically, the barrier wall may have played a part in saving both lives.
"The barrier wall did its job trying to maintain that vehicle on its side of the roadway," said Witcher.
I-75 south traffic had to be rerouted to County Road 25A initially after the accident while the northbound center and right lanes remained open.
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