By NEOhio.News Staff
May 16, 2024
WARREN COUNTY — A devastating crash involving a wrong-way driver on Interstate 71 early Thursday morning has left a teenager dead. The incident occurred at approximately 1:40 a.m. near Fields Ertel Road, according to reports from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP).
The collision happened when a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, traveling northbound in the southbound lanes, struck a 2019 International Harvester tractor-trailer head-on. The impact caused both vehicles to veer off the road, with the tractor-trailer overturning as a result.
Tragically, the 17-year-old driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 30-year-old man from Maple Heights, was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The southbound lanes of I-71 were closed for several hours following the crash, reopening just after 8:30 a.m. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
This tragic event highlights the dangers of wrong-way driving and serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety.
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