One person is dead and Interstate 70 was closed in both directions on June 19 after a tractor-trailer lost a tire, triggering a multiple-vehicle crash in downtown Columbus.
The crash occurred just after 4 p.m. on eastbound I-70, just west of the Miller Avenue and Kelton Avenue exits when an eastbound semi-truck lost a tire, according to a Columbus police dispatcher. The tire hit another vehicle, causing it to crash and creating a domino effect with at least seven other vehicles involved in the crash, the dispatcher said.
Additional vehicles may be involved as calls about the crash were still coming in after 5 p.m., the dispatcher said.
One person was killed, but the identity of the victim will not immediately be released pending positive identification and notification of family.
No other injuries had been reported on scene and no other people were transported to any local hospitals, the dispatcher said.
I-70 is expected to be closed in both directions for hours on the eastbound side and for an undetermined amount of time on the westbound side as Columbus police Accident Investigation Unit investigators pore over the scene and gather information.
Delaware County and eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: One dead, I-70 closed in downtown Columbus after semi loses tire, triggering crash
Reporting by Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Maria DeVito, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
