A reckless minivan driver caused a massive pileup on Interstate 71 near downtown Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday evening. The driver, who was traveling southbound, missed his exit and suddenly stopped in the center lane at around 5:25 pm. This unexpected halt triggered a chain reaction, with a gray SUV and a white SUV coming to a stop behind the minivan. However, a third vehicle, a gray van, was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the white SUV, which in turn crashed into the gray SUV, sending it spinning out of control.
The impact left both SUVs with significant rear-end damage, and the van came to a stop in the left lane, forcing oncoming traffic to maneuver around the crash site. Miraculously, despite the severity of the collision, Ohio Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Bruning reported that no life-threatening injuries were sustained. The minivan driver, whose vehicle was not damaged, drove away from the scene.
The Ohio Department of Transportation released a video of the incident on social media, urging drivers to exercise caution when missing an exit. ‘If you miss your exit, do NOT do this. Ever,’ they advised. Instead, drivers are recommended to continue to the next exit and circle back.
As of Thursday, no crash report was available, and it was unclear whether the minivan driver would face any charges. DailyMail.com has reached out to Columbus Police for further information on the incident.
