CLEVELAND — A deadly, wrong-way crash shut down a large portion of I-71 northbound overnight and sent at least three people to the hospital.
Emergency responders were called to the area of I-71 northbound just before the West 150th Street exit around 1 a.m. Thursday.
Cleveland police dispatch tells News 5 that a car was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes—when it crashed into another car head-on.
Watch the video below to see the moment the vehicle entered I-71the wrong way:
According to the medical examiner, a 58-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
A 60-year-old man and a 24-year-old man are in serious condition.
A 32-year-old woman experienced minor injuries, according to EMS.
It's not entirely clear who was in which car.
All three victims are currently being treated at area hospitals.
The highway re-opened just after 4 a.m.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, including whether drugs or alcohol were a factor.
The Ohio Department of Transportation says though they're relatively rare, wrong-way crashes frequently have deadly consequences.
“They make up about 0.01% of all crashes in the state of Ohio. However, they are 40% more likely to be fatal. They are very severe when they do happen,” explained Amanda McFarland, the public information officer for ODOT's Northeast Ohio region.
According to statewide data, 90 wrong-way crashes last year resulted in 16 deaths. In 2022, 105 wrong-way crashes killed 12 people.
Historical data provided by ODOT:
| YEAR | CRASHES | DEATHS |
| 2024 | 30 | N/A |
| 2023 | 90 | 16 |
| 2022 | 105 | 12 |
| 2021 | 96 | 12 |
| 2020 | 91 | 17 |
| 2019 | 78 | 28 |
| 2018 | 96 | 13 |
| 2017 | 76 | 10 |
| 2016 | 77 | 19 |
ODOT has been working on prevention efforts to reduce wrong-way crashes and deaths along I-71 and I-90 in Northeast Ohio.
A wrong-way detection system will include two sets of flashing signs triggered by a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on 25 exit ramps across 22 miles. Once the second set of signs registers a wrong-way driver, the ODOT headquarters in Columbus will receive an alert and a short video clip of the vehicle. An operator there can then contact local police if necessary.
The W 130th Street exit is among the ramps that will soon include the measures.
Watch our previous coverage here:
"This is not one catch-all that's going to keep every wrong-way driver off the road. This is a detection system, one thing we can do to prevent wrong-way drivers from getting on the highway," McFarland said.
The detection systems have already been implemented elsewhere in the state. In 2023, ODOT detected 180 wrong-way incidents. 132 (73.3%) resulted in the driver turning around before reaching the freeway mainline.
ODOT said the wrong-way driver involved in Thursday's deadly crash ignored 12 “one way,” “do not enter,” or “wrong way” signs, a large painted arrow on the pavement, and dozens of raised pavement markers.
The department hopes more measures can deter future incidents.
“The Department of Transportation is hopeful that this wrong-way detection system will alert drivers when they’re entering the highway in the wrong way and prevent any needless deaths on our roadways moving forward,” said McFarland.
An originally scheduled debut of the technology in 2023 was delayed because of supply chain challenges. ODOT expects the system to be online in Northeast Ohio in September 2024.
