Construction zone crash on I-90 injures three, one critically

ELYRIA — A three-vehicle crash in the Interstate-90 construction zone in Elyria on Thursday left three people injured, one of them critically, and badly disrupted rush hour traffic. Elyria Fire Chief Joe Vargo said that at least three people were injured in the crash, one of them critically. He said that the crash was reported at about 4:30 p.m. Vargo said the crash occurred near mile marker 146 just east of the Elyria exit in the construction zone on I-90. The crash happened on the thru traffic lane of the construction zone, which the department called the "contraflow lane," where the lane crosses off of the westbound lane and runs alongside the eastbound lane. Engine Company No. 3 arrived at the scene arrived on the scene first, blocked the eastbound lane and its crew then climbed over the barrier between the eastbound lane and the contraflow lane to render first aid to the crash victims. According to a report from Company No. 3, the crew found a three-vehicle crash involving a heavily damaged pickup truck lying on its passenger side in the middle of the lane. The male driver of the truck was ejected from his vehicle and seriously injured in the crash. Elyria fire said that firefighters rendered first aid to him on the scene and LifeCare Ambulance then transported him to the hospital. The other two vehicles involved in the crash sustained minor damage. The report said that two passengers of one of the vehicles were treated for non life-threatening injuries, and no injuries were reported in the other car. According to the report, a witness told firefighters that the pickup truck struck the vehicle in front of it, crashed into the barrier and then rolled over multiple times, ejecting the driver in the process. The crash is still under investigation. The eastbound lane and the local westbound lane of I-90 had reopened by 5:30 p.m. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.