COLUMBUS – Columbus police say a medical issue may have led to a multi-vehicle crash on the Northeast Side Thursday afternoon that closed a vital freeway during the afternoon commute.
Joseph Buza, 82, of Canal Winchester, was passing another vehicle on I-71 northbound under the E. Hudson Street overpass at approximately 4:58 p.m. when his Chevrolet Cruz rear-ended of a Honda CR-V being driven by Martin Smith, 38, of Worthington, shoving the SUV into two other vehicles before Buza’s car drove off the right side of the freeway, Sgt. Brooke Wilson of the Accident Investigation Unit said.
Smith’s SUV struck a Honda Pilot driven by Kimberly Paap, 51, of Powell, and a tractor-trailer being driven by Abel Silva, 41 of El Paso, Texas.
The accident forced authorities to shut down the northbound lanes of I-71 for about two hours.
Buza and his front seat passenger, Nancy Buza, 69, also of Canal Winchester were taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in life-threatening condition, Wilson said.
A preliminary investigation indicated Buza may have experienced a medical problem prior to the collision but such Wilson said it will take more extensive medical treatment to make a determination.
There were no other injuries.
The Accident Investigation Unit responded and initiated an investigation.