Winter Storm Skylar reared up its ugly head 40 miles north of Columbus, causing an 81-car pileup on I-71 in Morrow County, Ohio Tuesday.
Winter Storm #Skylar caused traffic issues in Morrow County, #OH Tuesday. 81 cars were involved in a #pileup on I-71. Vehicles slid off the roads and into one another causing minor injuries and delays. pic.twitter.com/yg7K86yhjE
— AMHQ (@AMHQ) March 14, 2018
Crashes Start Around 4 P.M.
The State Highway Patrol says the traffic involved included 11 commercial vehicles. At least one tractor-trailer ended up on its side.
State troopers didn’t immediately provide a full count of how many people were hurt, but said none of the injuries was considered life-threatening.
The closure was reported shortly after 4pm Tuesday in the northbound lanes of I-71 past State Route 95. Crashes were also reported on the other side of the highway, causing the highway to close about 10 miles south of Bellville, Ohio.
The highway patrol’s initial report said at least 60 vehicles were involved in the crash, but a further investigation moved the number up to 81. This also included 11 commercial vehicles. Minor injuries were reported, but the total number of injuries is unknown. A media release did say there were non-life threatening injuries during the crash.
The Ohio Department of Transportation reported the southbound lanes of 71 opened around 6 p.m., while the northbound lanes reopened just after 10 p.m.
More Videos and Photos of Crash
MORE VIDEO OF I-71 PILEUP: An even closer look at the massive chain-reaction crash involving at least 40 vehicles in Morrow County https://t.co/vT3p7x4ZHO pic.twitter.com/dTSC37eoHN
— ABC6 (@wsyx6) March 13, 2018
At least 40 vehicles involved in a pileup on I-71 near Mt. Gilead in Morrow County. https://t.co/vT3p7x4ZHO (Courtesy: Reagan Spencer) pic.twitter.com/FWYQLpdlZg
— ABC6 (@wsyx6) March 13, 2018
UPDATE: All lanes of I-71 north are open in Morrow County after a 70-vehicle pileup around 5 pm https://t.co/jfVyQSuu68 pic.twitter.com/oVGoi0lDmK
— ABC6 (@wsyx6) March 14, 2018
Viewer Dennis Cowles sent us these unbelievable pictures of a 50 CAR PILEUP in Morrow County. I-71 is closed in both directions north of SR 95. Miraculously only minor injuries!! @nbc4i pic.twitter.com/scdKm2XSSV
— Katie Ferrell (@Katie_Ferrell) March 13, 2018