NTSB publishes report on fatal accidents on the Ohio Turnpike

SWANTON, Ohio — The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report confirming the story of the Aug. 15 crashes on the Ohio Turnpike that killed four people and injured numerous others. The report also indicates that the Swanton toll plaza — which has been the subject of some investigation — played a role in the first crash.

According to the NTSB report, which the agency said could change as the investigation continues, the first accident occurred at about 5:30 a.m. when an SUV slowed down in the express lane leading to the toll booth.

WTOL 11 previously reported that the driver of the SUV told Ohio State Highway Patrol authorities that she was confused by the toll booth, which caused her to slow down.

The SUV was then struck from behind by a semi-truck. The accident killed two of the SUV passengers, seriously injured the SUV driver and another passenger, and seriously injured the semi-truck driver. A hazardous substance spill also occurred. The NTSB said it had not received any reports of injuries to workers cleaning up the spill.

The first crash caused a traffic jam. At about 5:54 a.m., 20 minutes after the first crash, five commercial vehicles and a car were involved in a second crash when a semi-trailer collided with another semi-trailer, the NTSB said.

Four of the commercial vehicles were damaged, and a fire after the accident damaged the fifth and fatally injured its driver. The four passengers of the non-commercial car were seriously injured in the accident. This accident also occurred near the toll plaza, according to the report.

A third accident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in the westbound lanes. It involved a semi-trailer truck that did not stop because of the traffic jam. This truck, a 2024 Volvo VNL, crashed into the rear of a pickup truck with a trailer and two passenger cars. One of these two cars then crashed into another commercial vehicle. This accident involving five vehicles left one dead and seven injured.

The accident remains under investigation as the NTSB determines the probable cause of the accident and prepares to issue safety recommendations. Organizations involved in the investigation include the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.