UPDATE: I-275 Pileup Kills One, Injures 20 Others

WLWT-TV

WLWT-TV

View Larger Map

Update posted Tuesday, January 22 at 6:22 a.m.:

Icy roads and near-whiteout conditions are blamed for a massive crash on Interstate 275 in Hamilton County Monday.

The 86-vehicle pileup near Colerain Avenue claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl. The child was killed when she was struck by a flying guard rail while standing in the highway median.

At least 20 other people were hurt in what some are calling the worst traffic accidents in tri-state history.

“A red car came up beside me, flipped in front of me and then a semi trailer took out the box truck. All hell broke loose behind us,” one driver recalled his experience in the crash.

A surprise blast of heavy snow hit the area just before 11:00 a.m. Many of the drivers involved said visibility was so poor that by the time they realized there was an accident in front of them, it was too late to stop.

The accident happened a little after 11:00 a.m. The highway didn’t reopen in both directions until about 7:00 p.m. as Hamilton County sheriff’s deputies, Ohio State Patrol troopers, and Ohio Department of Transportation workers spent the day clearing wrecked vehicles.

There was another 50 vehicle pileup on Interstate 75 north of Cincinnati at about the same time. No serious injuries were associated with that accident.

Update posted at 2:45 p.m.:

Officials say the woman who died in the more than 80 vehicle pile-up on Interstate 275 near Colerain Avenue was outside her vehicle when she was struck by another wayward car.

It is unclear if the woman was involved in one of the original wrecks that led to the large pile-up.

Crews remain on scene clearing the vehicles, one by one. Nearly four hours after the accident, the Ohio Department of Transportation says there is still no estimated time for the interstate to reopen in either direction.

Update posted at 2:00 p.m.:

The number of vehicles involved in a pile-up on Interstate 275 in Colerain Township continues to climb. Ohio Highway Patrol says that there were more than 80 vehicles that got caught up in the mishap.

Seventy of the vehicles were passenger vehicles and 16 were semi trucks.

One person died in the massive accident and at least 20 other people were injured.

Update posted at 1:37 p.m.:

One person was reportedly killed in a large pile-up on I-275 near Colerain Avenue Monday.

Six people were taken to area hospitals following the crash. Various media reports said several other people were treated at the scene for minor injuries.

I-275 remains closed in both directions.

Original story posted at 12:26 p.m.:

(Colerain Township, Oh.) – A pile-up accident involving as many as 30 vehicles has shut down Interstate 275.

The accident occurred a little after 11:00 a.m. in the westbound lanes near the Colerain Avenue exit. Several injuries were being reported. One vehicle reportedly rolled several times. A semi trailer jack-knifed across the highway.

Snow had been falling at a steady pace in the area at the time of the crash.

Botht he westbound and eastbound lanes of the interstate remain shut down as of 12:15 p.m. It is unknown when the highway may reopen.