Multi-vehicle collision kills one on I-270 in southwest Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One person is dead after a multi-vehicle crash that occurred in southwest Columbus Monday morning. At 2:41 a.m., police officers were called to the area of Interstate 270 South and Georgesville Road regarding a multi-vehicle crash. One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and another was hospitalized in critical condition. In an update provided by the Columbus Division of Police, the crash occurred as two adults were changing a tire on a minivan, which was parked in the left shoulder of the highway. In addition, a woman was sitting in the driver's seat of a sedan that was parked about 50 feet behind the minivan. At that same time, an adult was driving an Audi A4 and failed to control the vehicle. The Audi swerved off the left side of the interstate, struck the rear of the Corolla, which was launched into the minivan. The woman in the Corolla, 45-year-old Jodi Tackett, was pronounced dead at the scene. The Corolla also struck one of the adults, who was hospitalized and remains in critical condition. Police said the “at-fault vehicle” was initially traveling in the wrong direction on the interstate, and self-corrected the vehicle by turning around before the fatal crash occurred. The driver then attempted to flee the scene but was taken into custody a short distance away on Georgesville Square Drive. I-270 South was closed for several hours, but reopened at around 7:15 a.m. The names of the victim and suspect have not yet been released as authorities continue to investigate the crash.