UPDATE @2 a.m. 9/17/2015
The right lane of westbound Interstate 70 is expected to be closed through morning as officials continue an investigation into a fatal crash that killed a Indiana man.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Alp Z. Berker, 49, of Carmel, Ind., was driving a white Dodge Grand Caravan in the westbound lanes of I-70 when he crashed into the back of a semi that had slowed to a stop due to another crash. Berker was unable to stop and crashed into the rear of the trailer, according to troopers. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Preble County Coroner’s Office.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
UPDATE @ 11:18 p.m. 9/16/2015: The far left lane of I-70 West has reopened to traffic. The other lanes remain closed because of the investigation and the cleanup.
UPDATE @ 10:55 p.m.
The fatality on I-70 West occurred in the second of two separate vehicle accidents involving three semitrailers and a minivan, said Sgt. Jarod Keyes, with the Ohio Highway Patrol’s Dayton Post.
The fatality was in a white minivan that rear-ended a semitrailer that had stopped because of an earlier accident farther west on the interstate that involved two semitrailers, the sergeant said.
The person killed has not been identified, pending notification of relatives. Keyes said the drivers of the two semitrailers involved in the first accident were taken to Reid Health, suffering from non-life threatening injuries.
Keyes said witnesses have told investigators that the first accident occurred when one semitrailer apparently tried to merge from the shoulder and was rear-ended by a second semi.
After that collision, traffic slowed and the minivan slammed into the rear of a semitrailer. Keyes said debris in the roadway from the first accident may have played a role in the second accident because the semi that was rear-ended by the minivan may have slowed to avoid that debris.
Keyes said because of the dual investigations, there was no timetable as to when the interstate might reopen.
FIRST REPORT
A fatal vehicle accident on I-70 West has caused the shutdown of the interstate, about a mile east of U.S. 127.
We’re told there are two separate accidents, both involving semitrailers and passenger vehicles.
The accidents were reported sometime between 7:45 p.m. and 8 p.m.
We have a crew on scene and we’ll update this report as we get details.