Fatal Crash Under Investigation: What We Know | Land Line Media
Officials are seeking answers after a fatal crash in Ohio raised questions about the driver’s commercial licensing history and the safety of tolling operations on the Ohio Turnpike. Investigators determined that an SUV driver’s deceleration and lane change were the probable cause of the collision.
NTSB Cites Tolling-Lane Safety Concerns
National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said the crash demonstrated the safety risks associated with combining high-speed electronic tolling with low-speed manual tolling lanes.
“This crash shows the deadly safety consequences of mixing high-speed electronic tolling with low-speed manual tolling lanes,” Homendy said in a statement.
The NTSB encouraged the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission to adopt fully electronic, high-speed tolling and permanently close the low-speed lanes. Pennsylvania and Illinois were cited as states that have implemented fully electronic tolling systems.
Driver’s CDL History Under Review
The investigation also found that the driver involved in the fatal crash had been issued a commercial driver’s license in California. Officials are now seeking additional information about the licensing process and the driver’s qualifications.
A separate federal case in Louisiana has raised similar concerns about commercial licenses being issued to drivers who were allegedly unfit to operate commercial vehicles. A U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana said that conduct endangered lives.
Investigation Continues
Investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the collision, including vehicle movements, toll-lane operations and the driver’s licensing history. The NTSB’s probable-cause finding identified the SUV driver’s deceleration and lane change as the primary factors in the crash.
Additional findings may be released as the investigation progresses.
