Interstate 70 east has opened on the city's east side after being closed due to a fatal crash Friday afternoon.
Columbus police and EMS responded to I-70 eastbound just east of Brice Road on a report of a crash at about 11:45 a.m.
According to Columbus police, Janaia L. Randle, 38, of Columbus, was operating her silver 2006 Dodge Durango westbound on I-70. For an unknown reason, Randle drove into the grass median just east of Brice Road.
The Durango went over the cables in the median and collided with a green 1997 Plymouth Voyager minivan driven by Natalie A. Stentz, 39, of Grove City, police said.
The Voyager spun around and was struck by a 2008 black Ford Explorer, driven by Matthew Roth, 46, of Pickerington.
The Ford was then hit by a semi, driven by Fredrick D. Sampson, 58, of Baltimore, Maryland.
Stentz was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:48 a.m.
Randle was ejected during the crash. She was underneath a vehicle and rescued by emergency crews and bystanders. She was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital East by a Columbus fire medic with life-threatening injuries.
A 2-year-old child in the Durango was taken to Children's Hospital by a Violet Township medic in stable condition, police said.
Roth was taken to Grant Medical Center by a Columbus fire medic in stable condition.
Sampson was transported to Mount Carmel East by a Madison Township medic in stable condition.
Police said Randle was not the injured child's mother, but rather a caretaker.
I-70 eastbound was closed at I-270 on the city's East Side, but reopened at about 5 p.m.
The ramps from I-270 north and south to I-70 east were closed, but traffic was restored shortly before 5 p.m.
The crash remains under investigation.
This is the 6th traffic-related fatality of the year.
No further information was available at the time.
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