Drivers faced a long night on the road after a crash shut down northbound I-71 just outside Columbus, Ohio. The first wreck happened around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, in a tight construction zone with no shoulder for vehicles to escape.
What happened: Two semis collided in the narrow work area near the Madison and Pickaway county line. Not long after, another crash took place involving a box truck and a passenger vehicle in the same area.
- Both collisions left two people from each scene needing to go to the hospital. Police said the injuries were not life threatening.
- The blocked lanes and close quarters meant there was no way for stuck vehicles to get around, keeping drivers stranded on the highway.
Crews had to use heavy equipment to move the semis and cargo out of the way. Troopers walked the lines of parked cars and even woke up some drivers who had fallen asleep, reported WJHL.
Traffic was trapped from State Route 38 through U.S. Route 62 from 10:30 p.m. until about 6:50 a.m. Thursday, when the interstate was finally reopened. No further details about the cause of the crashes have been released.