A Columbus man was killed and an Ohio State student was injured Wednesday morning in a three-vehicle crash along I-71, according to the State Highway Patrol.
The accident occurred in northeastern Ohio, near Lodi, at 8:45 a.m.
A southbound sport-utility vehicle, driven by Jameson App, a junior at OSU, lost control following a lane change, according to the State Highway Patrol. App’s vehicle crossed over three lanes and struck a guardrail. App’s vehicle then moved back into the road and was struck by a tractor-trailer driven by William Gardner, 63, of Carmel, Maine.
While trying to avoid the collision, Gardner’s truck hit another semi driven by Bina Wambura of Guntersville, Ala. Neither Gardner nor Wambura were injured, according to the State Highway Patrol.
Sean Ritzman, 22, of Columbus, was killed after being ejected from the back seat of App’s vehicle. He was not wearing a seat belt.
Jordan Roush, a 2005 OSU graduate, was riding in the front passenger seat of App’s vehicle and was taken to Lodi Hospital along with App. Both were treated for minor injuries and later released.
According to a statement published by the State Highway Patrol, drugs or alcohol were believed to have been involved with the crash.
The accident is still under investigation.
John Cropper can be reached at [email protected].
