NORTH ROYALTON, Ohio — One person is dead following a head-on collision on the Ohio Turnpike early Monday afternoon.
The crash occurred westbound around mile marker 164, which is close to 2 miles away from the I-71 exit.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, around 1:05 p.m. troopers saw Heather Bates, 39, of Monroe Falls, traveling eastbound in a white Hyundai Sonata in the westbound lanes of I-80.
As troopers neared the Sonata, Bates struck a 2014 Dodge cargo van head-on. The driver of the cargo van was Scott Groman, 39, of Brunswick. Groman suffered non life-threatening injuries. Bates was pronounced dead at the scene.
The trooper following Bates was involved in a secondary crash as a result of the head-on collision. Trooper Hector Burgos, Special Response Team, neared the wrong-way vehicle as it collided with the Dodge Cargo Van. The initial force of the collision sent the engine from the Hyundai Sonata into traffic, which Trooper Burgos was unable to avoid and struck.
Both Trooper Burgos and Groman were transported to Southwest Hospital for non-life threatening injuries
The crash is still under investigation. Please stay with 3News for further updates.
