Ohio Turnpike Crash Sparks Three Lawsuits and a Long List of Defendants
At least three lawsuits have been filed in connection with the fatal August 2024 crash at an Ohio Turnpike toll plaza near Swanton, while a National Transportation Safety Board investigation has concluded that fully electronic tolling could have prevented the collision.
Multiple Lawsuits Name Drivers, Companies and Contractors
The family of two people killed in the crash has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against multiple defendants, including Hall and CJJ Industries. The case also names Cincinnati-based Prime AE Group, which designed the toll plaza; Fremont-based Mosser Construction, which built it; and five unidentified subcontractors.
The lawsuit alleges that the toll plaza’s design and safety features contributed to the crash. The case has been assigned to Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Gary Cook and seeks more than $25,000 in damages.
Attorneys representing the family have also named several other companies as defendants. The available information does not identify all of those parties or provide details about the specific claims against each one.
Responses From Named Defendants
So far, Brenntag and Mosser Construction have filed responses. Brenntag denied responsibility for the crash after allegations that chemical containers were not properly secured in the truck.
Mosser said it constructed the toll plaza according to the design specifications. The company also said responsibility for safety considerations rested with the design firm and the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission.
OTIC is not named as a defendant in the family’s wrongful-death lawsuit. However, two people injured in the crash have filed a separate lawsuit against the commission, alleging that known safety concerns involving the redesigned toll plaza were not addressed.
Trooper Also Files Lawsuit
Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Jacquelyn Layson filed a third lawsuit related to the crash. Layson alleges she was injured while responding to the collision.
The separate cases involve a range of parties, including the truck driver, trucking-related companies, the toll plaza’s designers and contractors, and the turnpike agency. Each lawsuit seeks more than $25,000 in damages, according to available court information.
NTSB Recommends Electronic Tolling
The NTSB’s final report found that the fatal crash could have been avoided if the Ohio Turnpike had operated its toll facilities differently. The agency recommended fully electronic tolling to reduce driver confusion and eliminate conflicts associated with manual toll lanes.
The lawsuits allege that Ohio Turnpike officials were aware that drivers were having difficulty navigating the tolling system before the crash. The claims cite previously reported data regarding problems at the plazas.
It remains unclear how Ohio officials or the turnpike operator will respond to the NTSB’s recommendation, including whether the remaining manual toll lanes at four plazas will eventually be closed.
