I-75 pileup in Erie Township injures six, one critically
A teenager was critically injured and five others were hurt in a multiple-vehicle crash Friday evening on I-75 in Erie Township, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported.
The crash on northbound I-75, on the Bay Creek Road overpass, was reported at 7:11 p.m. Friday, a news release said. The preliminary investigation showed Sean M. O’Connor, 44, of Perrysburg, Ohio, was driving a 2010 Lexus ES350 northbound on I-75 in the center travel lane with two rear seat passengers, ages 9 and 10, from Oregon, Ohio. After reaching the crest of the Bay Creek Road overpass, O’Connor's car rear-ended a 2014 Toyota Camry driven by Rawsline Hampton, 63, of Cleveland. She was accompanied by front seat passenger Chantel R. Worthen, 23, of Euclid, Ohio, and a 14-year-old rear seat passenger from Cleveland.
At the time of the crash, vehicles in all northbound lanes of I-75 were traveling at a slow rate of speed due to freeway construction north of where the crash occurred, the release said.
Hampton’s vehicle was pushed forward, striking the rear of a 2020 Ram 1500 pickup driven by Derrick R. Anderson, 54, of Hamtramck. After impact, Hampton’s vehicle rotated and left the freeway to the northwest, impacting the median wall, coming to rest facing south, the release said. Anderson’s pickup traveled off the freeway to the northeast, coming to rest on the freeway’s shoulder.
O’Connor’s vehicle continued in motion, striking the median wall before crashing into a 2022 Ford Escape driven by Margaret L. Church, 76, of Temperance in the center travel lane. O’Connor’s vehicle then struck the rear of a 2022 Volvo tractor-trailer operated by Christopher J. Lewis, 46, of Dayton, Ohio, before coming to rest. Church’s vehicle came to a controlled stop, north of where the crash occurred, off the freeway. Lewis’ tractor-trailer came to rest in the right lane of travel.
O’Connor, his passengers and Anderson were transported to ProMedica Toledo Hospital and were listed in stable condition. Hampton, Worthen and the 14-year-old rear-seat passenger were transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. Hampton and Worthen were listed in stable condition, and the 14-year-old passenger was listed in critical condition.
Church and Lewis were not injured and were released from the scene.
All drivers and passengers were wearing their safety belts at the time of the crash, with the exception of the rear seat, 14-year-old passenger in Hampton’s vehicle, the release said. Airbags deployed in Hampton’s and O’Connor’s cars.
Driver inattention is a contributing factor to the cause of the crash, the release said.
Members of the Erie Township Fire Department, Monroe Community Ambulance, Luna Pier Police Department and Michigan State Police assisted at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by Lt. Brian Quinn and Deputy Sheriffs Jon Cregar, Alec Preadmore and Steven Warren of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Services Division. Anyone with information is asked to call 734-240-7756.
Anonymous tips can be called to Crime Stoppers at 800-SPEAKUP (800-773-2587) or can be submitted on their website, www.1800speakup.org.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: I-75 pileup in Erie Township injures six, one critically
