A two-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 in Jefferson Township sent four people to the hospital and briefly closed all lanes in late March. According to the Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, a box truck drifted onto the right shoulder and struck a parked SUV. Collisions like this one often involve liability questions that take careful review to answer.
What Happened on Interstate 71
The crash happened around 12:32 p.m. near mile post 163. A northbound box truck traveling in the right lane moved onto the shoulder and hit a parked SUV that was occupied by two people.
One of them was flown by MedFlight to a Columbus hospital. Two others were taken to a Mansfield hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The truck driver had minor injuries and stayed at the scene.
Several agencies responded, including township EMS crews, the Mansfield Fire Department, and two towing companies. All lanes reopened after a short closure.
How Lane-Departure Crashes Happen
A vehicle leaving its lane is one of the more serious patterns on any highway. When a heavy truck drifts onto the shoulder, the people most at risk are often those who are stopped or standing near a disabled vehicle.
State troopers track how often this occurs. About 26% of fatal crashes over a recent five-year period involved a vehicle driving off the roadway, as troopers recently reported.
Common reasons a driver leaves the lane include:
- Fatigue or falling asleep behind the wheel
- Distraction from a phone or other device
- Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
- A sudden medical event while driving
- Cargo that is loaded poorly or shifts in a commercial truck
Who May Be Responsible After a Truck Crash
Fault in a truck crash is not always obvious. More than one party can share responsibility.
In a commercial case, liability can fall on the driver, the company that employed the driver, or a business that loaded the freight. Insurance coverage is often larger and more layered than in a standard car crash, which can make the claims process slower and more contested.
An experienced Mansfield, OH car accident lawyer can review the crash report, request the driver’s logs, and identify every party with a possible role in the collision. Evidence such as electronic control data and maintenance records can disappear quickly, so early action helps.
Steps to Protect a Claim
If you or a family member was hurt in a highway collision, a few steps can help protect a future claim:
- Get medical care and keep records of every visit
- Save the crash report number and any photos from the scene
- Write down what you remember while it is fresh
- Hold off on recorded statements to an insurer until you have spoken with an attorney
These steps sound simple, but they often make the difference between a well-documented claim and one built on memory alone.
Getting Help After a Highway Crash
The team at Mishkind Kulwicki Law Co., L.P.A. handles serious injury and wrongful death cases for people across Ohio.
If you were injured on I-71 or another Richland County road, a car accident lawyer in Mansfield, OH can explain your options and manage the insurance side while you focus on healing. Reaching out sooner gives your legal team more room to preserve the record before it is gone.
