Man killed in 6-vehicle crash on I-71

A trucker from Georgia has been charged in a fatal accident Monday morning on Interstate 71 north in Warren County that involved six vehicles, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

William Felton, 52, of Morrow, was killed. He was driving a 2001 PT Cruiser near the Jeremiah Morrow Bridge at about 9:50 a.m. His car was sandwiched between two vehicles after he was rear-ended by a semitrailer driven by Robert Landress, 23, of Cartersville, Ga., the Patrol said.
The semitrailer pushed the car into the rear of another semitrailer driven by Tom Brown, 43, of Liberty Twp.
Landress continued north and struck three other vehicles that included a 2009 Ford Escape driven by 50-year-old Kimberly Helton, of Clarksville, Ohio; a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by Alex Smith, 53, of Liberty Twp.; and a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Muir Hanke, 41, of Loveland.
According to the OSP, Felton was pronounced dead at the scene.
Smith was treated and released from Arrow Springs Hospital for injuries that were not considered to be life threatening.

Landress was charged with vehicular homicide and was in the Warren County Jail on $5,000 bail.

The interstate was closed until approximately 2:30 p.m. to accommodate the investigation and cleanup of the scene.

About the Author