COLUMBUS, Franklin County, Ohio, Sept. 17, 2026 — A man died and another driver was critically injured after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 270 early on Thursday morning, September 17, according to authorities. The Columbus Division of Police said the head-on collision happened near Cleveland Avenue on the highway's north side.
Officers reportedly responded to a crash report around 12:30 a.m. on I-270 East near Cleveland Avenue. They stated that a pickup truck entered the eastbound highway via an exit ramp and traveled the wrong way before striking a passenger car head-on. The impact reportedly pushed the car into the median wall, and the truck came to rest on top of it.
The driver of the car, identified by authorities as 51-year-old Mario Tufts-Davison, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:40 a.m. The driver of the truck was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in critical condition.
All eastbound lanes of I-270 reopened after a closure of about five hours tied to the crash investigation and cleanup, according to authorities.
The crash remains under investigation. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the vehicles or drivers involved to contact the Accident Investigation Unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
Our sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life.
Where Wrong-Way Crashes Tend to Happen
Wrong-way crashes cluster on divided highways, especially near interchanges where an off-ramp can be mistaken for an on-ramp. Exit ramps that look similar to entrance ramps, confusing signage, and poor lighting at night all raise the odds that a driver turns the wrong direction without realizing it.
These crashes are also concentrated overnight and in the early morning hours, when traffic is light and impaired or fatigued driving is more common. A driver going the wrong way on a freeway often travels a mile or more before a crash occurs, because there's little oncoming traffic to alert them to the mistake right away.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 4,164 fatal wrong-way crashes on divided highways resulted in 5,730 deaths from 2014 through 2023. Highway engineers have studied ramp geometry and sign placement for years in response to these patterns, though the crashes still occur at interchanges nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes wrong-way crashes?
Common factors include driver impairment, confusion at interchanges, missed or unclear signage, and entering a ramp from the wrong end at night when visibility is limited.
Does alcohol play a role in wrong-way crashes?
Impaired driving is a factor in a large share of wrong-way crashes, particularly those that happen late at night or in the early morning hours, though each case depends on its own investigation.
How do highways try to prevent wrong-way entries?
Departments of transportation use lowered "Wrong Way" and "Do Not Enter" signage, reflective pavement arrows, and, in some locations, sensors that alert authorities when a vehicle enters against traffic.
What to Do After a Wrong-Way Crash in Columbus, Ohio
If you're involved in or witness a wrong-way crash, call 911 immediately and move to a safe location away from traffic if possible. Even if you feel fine, seek a medical evaluation, since injuries from a head-on impact aren't always obvious right away.
Get the names and badge numbers of responding officers and ask how to obtain the official crash report once it's filed. If you have dashcam footage or photos of the scene, save them, and report anything you witnessed to the investigating agency. Columbus police have asked anyone with information about this crash to come forward, which is often the case in wrong-way investigations while authorities work to confirm what happened.
