While driving south on the highway, the woman drifted off the road when she reached for her phone. She over-corrected before crashing into a median and rolling the SUV multiple times, according to Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Vee Witcher Jr.
The woman was the sole occupant of the Lexus SUV and was wearing a seat belt that Witcher said saved her life.
"In this crash, and in my experience when [drivers] are overturning, a seat belt definitely saved her life today," Witcher said.
Charges have yet to be filed, but the unidentified woman could be charged with failure to control.
“Right now that’s a main factor of crashes is distracted driving,” Witcher said.
“Texting while driving is a big issue you need to refarin from doing that [...] keep both hands on the wheel and be prepared for unexpected things when driving.”
Ohio 444 was closed for around 25 minutes while troopers gathered photos and took measurements during an investigation earlier tonight. The highway is now open.
The woman and her insurance company will be responsible for repairs to the fence owned by Wright Patterson Air Force Base, according to Witcher.
UPDATE @ 7:56 p.m.
A woman driving while on her cell phone crashed into a fence line near Gate 16A at Wright Patterson Air Force Base Tuesday evening.
Troopers at the scene said the woman drifted off the left side of Ohio 444 in her SUV and hit a median.
She then over-corrected and crashed through the fence and into a gully.
The unidentified driver was the only person in the car and was taken to Miami Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Troopers told our crew Ohio 444 remains closed at A Road while the Ohio State Highway Patrol responds.
INITIAL REPORT
Crews are responding after a car reportedly crashed and flipped into a gate at Wright Patterson Air Force Base.
Initial reports indicates crews were sent to a gate off of Ohio 444 around 6:48 p.m. on a report of a personal injury crash.
An unknown number of occupants are out of the car. It is unknown if anyone is injured.
We are working to learn more about the condition of the victims as well as the cause of the crash.
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