WASHINGTON – The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said recently that a 2024 crash at a toll plaza on Interstate 80 near Swanton, Ohio, could have been avoided if the turnpike used fully electronic tolling and provided clearer information about toll payment options.
The NTSB disclosed its findings in a media release.
The crash occurred on Aug. 15, 2024, at the Swanton Township Toll Plaza on the Ohio Turnpike. An SUV reportedly was traveling in the left lane of the high-speed toll lanes when it suddenly slowed and moved across the path of a tractor-trailer while attempting to enter the low-speed manual toll booth lanes on the right side of the toll plaza.
The truck then reportedly struck the SUV from behind and overturned. As a result of the crash, two passengers in the SUV died, the driver and another passenger were seriously injured, and the driver of the truck was seriously injured. Sulfonic acid carried by the truck also spilled following the rollover, but no injuries were reported from exposure to the chemicals.
NTSB said it is recommending that the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission permanently close low-speed tolling lanes and implement fully electronic tolling at its toll plazas. The NTSB also recommended that the Federal Highway Administration adopt guidance on the safety benefits of fully electronic tolling.
“NTSB investigators determined that the toll plaza’s hybrid design, which combines high-speed electronic tolling lanes with separated low-speed manual tolling lanes, increased the risk of a severe crash by creating conditions that encourage last-minute sudden lane changes and large speed differences between vehicles,” the release stated. “Video of the Swanton toll plaza over three weeks showed 1,099 similar last-minute lane changes — an average of 52 per day — with vehicles illegally traveling through the marked area between the high-speed and low-speed tolling lanes.
Illinois and Pennsylvania have already implemented fully electronic tolling on their portions of the Interstate 80 turnpike.
“This crash shows the deadly safety consequences of mixing high-speed electronic tolling with low-speed manual tolling lanes,” said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. “We encourage the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission to implement fully high-speed electronic tolling, as states like Pennsylvania and Illinois have, and permanently close the low-speed lanes to make the roadway safer for everyone.”
The investigation also found that emergency responders were delayed because they lacked direct access to the toll road. While this delay would not likely have changed the survivability of the crash, it does present risks for future crashes. The NTSB recommends the turnpike commission evaluate the need for additional emergency access points at toll plazas and construct them where appropriate.
Investigators also found that vehicle occupants were not wearing seat belts, which could have prevented their injuries and death. As a result, the NTSB is reiterating a 2014 recommendation to Ohio requiring the enforcement of seatbelt use for all vehicle occupants.
Following its investigation, the NTSB issued recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Ohio, the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, Springfield Township and the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. Those recommendations and the full report are available on the NTSB’s website. The investigation page contains the report and the investigation docket.
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
