Friday, August 06, 1999
DEADLY DAY ON I-275
4 killed, 40 injured in 2 wrecks
BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS, TANYA BRICKING and DAVID ECK
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Van and pickup rest in crumpled heaps between two semis at Thursday's fatal crash scene on I-275 under the Montgomery Road overpass.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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Four teens died and more than 40 people were injured Thursday in separate wrecks along Interstate 275 near I-71.
The four deaths occurred just before 5 p.m. Thursday when a van carrying teen-agers from Knoxville, Tenn., was struck in the rear by a semi tractor-trailer and pushed into a pickup and second semi. Twelve others were injured in the pileup.
About seven hours earlier, 32 were injured when three buses carrying members of an Indianapolis high school marching band, parents, and chaperones collided en route to an annual pilgrimage to Paramount's Kings Island. All were treated and released.
The van carrying the Knoxville teens, driven by Danita Goodman, 33, of Knoxville, was traveling westbound on I-275 with 14 passengers when it was struck in the rear by a tractor-trailer driven by Clayton Kuehn, 40, of Cadiz, Ky., sheriff's deputies said.
The impact propelled the van into a pickup driven by Brian Russwinkle, 19, of Roswell, Ga., and both vehicles were struck by a tractor-trailer driven by Robert Connelly, 45, of Deland, Fla. Neither Mr. Kuehn nor Mr. Connelly were injured.
The van was so crushed by the impact that firefighters worked frantically to cut it in half to free its occupants, Sycamore Township Fire Chief Bill Jetter said.
“It's something you just don't walk away from,” Chief Jetter said of the firefighters' anguish. “It was a busy and emotional day.”
Deputies charged Mr. Kuehn with four counts of in voluntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony, and five counts of aggravated vehicular assault, a fourth-degree felony.
Deputies clear the pavement under the Montgomery Road overpass.
(Dick Swaim photo)
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Police and hospital spokesmen said two people were pronounced dead at the scene and two died at University Hospital. One was a boy, the other three girls, an official of the Hamilton County coroner's office said. Their names were not immediately available.
Others injured in the crash included:
• Bethesda North Hospital: Brian Russwinkle, 19, of Roswell, Ga., fair condition; a 13-year-old girl from Knoxville, Tenn., serious condition; a 15-year-old girl from Knoxville, fair condition.
• Good Samaritan Hospital: Jackie Sanders, 35, Knoxville, serious condition. She was transferred from Bethesda North.
• Children's Hospital Medical Center: Four girls from Tennessee, all in fair condition.
• Jewish Hospital Kenwood: 25-year-old woman in fair condition, a 14-year-old girl, 33-year-old woman and 42-year-old man were treated and released. All are from Tennessee.
Hamilton County Sheriff's Lt. Nick Coyle said the rush-hour traffic was so congested that police and fire crews were delayed reaching the scene.
Traffic remained backed up for miles along I-275, which remained closed hours after the crash.
Rescuers tend to two Indianapolis students after a collision involving three buses en route to Kings Island.
(Dick Swaim photo)
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The crash was the second major wreck in less than seven hours to tax emergency crews and hospital workers in Cincinnati's northeastern suburbs.
More than 30 from Ben Davis High School were injured after three chartered buses carrying 129 marching band members, parents and chaperones to Kings Island crashed about 10:15 a.m., about 11/4 miles west of the evening crash site. A Mason teen-ager also was injured when the car he was driving struck one of the buses.
None of the injuries was serious and all 34 patients treated at area hospitals were released, hospital officials said.
“They had just finished summer band camp,” Tom Langdoc, director of school and community services for Wayne Township Schools, said.
The buses were traveling in a line on eastbound I-275 approaching the ramps to I-71 en route to Kings Island, Blue Ash police said.
The first bus slowed for construction-related traffic. When the second bus braked, the third bus hit it and pushed it into the first bus. A car behind the line of buses then struck the third bus.
“I didn't see it coming, but it was a huge jolt,” said Morgan Feeney, 15, who suffered a possible neck or back injury when the bus she was riding on was hit from behind. “I just saw a bunch of brake lights and I just closed my eyes. Everybody just wanted to know what was happening.”
Ronald G. Weishett, 60, of Indianapolis, the driver of the third bus, was cited for failing to maintain assured clear distance.
The group left Kings Island early to go to the hospitals to pick up the 32 students taken there for observation. All arrived back at the high school about 9:50 p.m., where they were greeted by a group of relieved parents, Mr. Langdoc said.
The amusement park gave them all vouchers so they could return on their own free of charge, he said.
Jewish Hospital in Kenwood received 15 patients; Mercy Hospital in Fairfield received 11; and Bethesda North Hospital got eight.
Perry Brothers and Phillip Pina contributed to this report.
Rescuers work as team on day of emergencies
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