Dayton, Ohio’s Interstate 70 was closed for several hours following an accident involving a tractor-trailer that killed two women on Sunday evening.
47-year-old Tina M. Boswell of Richmond and her passenger, 72-year-old Tomella Mason, also of Richmond, were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to local news sources. However, the Ohio Highway Patrol was unable to confirm the reports of the womens’ deaths, saying only that the accident occurred around 6 p.m., and that it was nearly 10:45 p.m. before the rightmost lane of the eastbound highway was opened to allow traffic through.
According to the investigation, the women apparently lost control of their vehicle and crossed the median from the westbound lanes into the path of the semi. They were apparently killed in the collision, while the driver of the truck only suffered minor injuries in comparison. The impact left the semi across all four lanes of the eastbound highway, although it seems no one else was involved in the accident.
Witnesses to the accident reported seeing multiple vehicles moving along the scene, including three ambulances and multiple wrecking vehicles. The wreckers were on scene as early as 9:40 p.m., but were unable to immediately begin clearing the scene. Police reported seeing some drivers stuck in traffic cross the median to return westbound and find an alternate route, and the backup of the accident apparently went for quite a few miles.
This case is certainly a tragic one, and illustrates just how powerful and extensive a wreck with a semi truck can be. While it is fairly clear that the driver of the semi is not specifically at fault in this incident and should thus not be blamed, his vehicle still shut down traffic for nearly five hours after the accident. The effects of a collision with one of these vehicles can easily spread out beyond the cars immediately involved.
