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Chardon woman killed in multi-vehicle Ohio Turnpike crash in Sandusky County, authorities say

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says 35-year-old Samantha Smith of Chardon died at the scene.

SANDUSKY COUNTY, Ohio — At least one person is dead following a fatal crash on the Ohio Turnpike Monday morning, in an incident that resulted in a closure of the Turnpike for five hours.

According to a press release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the three-vehicle crash occurred just before 10 a.m. Monday, just east of SR-51 in Washington Township in Sandusky County. 

The crash resulted in a five-hour closure while authorities responded to the scene. Their preliminary investigation determined that a Kenworth tractor-dump trailer was traveling west on the turnpike when it drove off the right side of the roadway, struck and drove over a concrete barrier wall, before entering the eastbound lanes and striking a Ford Escape. 

After striking the Ford Escape, OSHP said the tractor-dump trailer continued across the eastbound lanes and struck a guardrail, hitting a Kenworth tractor-trailer. 

The Ford continued a short distance before it caught fire, authorities said. Its driver, 35-year-old Samantha Smith of Chardon, succumbed to fatal injuries at the scene. 

The driver of the tractor-dump trailer was taken to the hospital with what OSHP described as serious injuries. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.

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