Milan Post Investigating Fatal Ohio Turnpike Crash in Lorain County
ELYRIA TOWNSHIP, OHIO — The Milan Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred Friday morning on the Ohio Turnpike in Lorain County.
According to the Patrol, the crash happened on June 19 at approximately 11:54 a.m. in Elyria Township, near milepost 146.3 in the eastbound lanes of the Ohio Turnpike.
The preliminary investigation shows that an eastbound Toyota RAV4, driven by Najalee N. Rivera, 28, of Lorain, traveled off the right side of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned.
Rivera was not wearing a safety belt at the time of the crash, according to investigators. She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Three juvenile passengers were also inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. A 7-year-old boy, an 8-year-old girl and a 4-year-old girl, all from Lorain, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported by LifeCare Ambulance to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center.
The roadway was closed for approximately three hours while emergency crews worked at the scene and the crash was cleared.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Elyria Township Fire Department, Lorain County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, and Rich’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation.
