Updated April 14, 2026, 2:43 p.m. ET
A nine-vehicle crash on northbound I-71 near U.S. 36/Route 37 in Delaware County at 6:27 p.m. April 11 killed three.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a 2006 Freightliner semi-truck failed to stop for backed-up traffic in the northbound lanes and struck vehicles.
Authorities said three other people were injured and transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Both directions of I-71 were closed for several hours for emergency response and investigation, the patrol said.
Police took the semi driver, Modou F. Ngom, 50, of Columbus, into custody on aggravated vehicular homicide charges. He is being held at the Delaware County Jail on $500,000 bond, authorities said.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 21. Prosecutors indicated additional charges are possible if he is indicted.
The crash occurred in an Ohio Department of Transportation construction zone where the I-71 northbound ramp to U.S. 36/SR 37 was reduced to one lane beginning April 8, ODOT said. The agency said investigators will determine whether construction contributed to the crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate.