Three of the four people killed in a 46-vehicle pileup Friday along the Ohio Turnpike were identified on Christmas night.
Killed were Julie E. Roth, 37, of Toledo, Bernard M. Bloniarz, 59, of Napoleon, and Emma L. Smith, 19, Webberville, Mich., the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
The name of the fourth person killed is being withheld pending next of kin notification, the patrol said Sunday night.
The crashes were reported beginning about 12:34 p.m. Friday during a massive winter storm that moved through the country. Multiple other people were injured.
The patrol reported said the main pileup occurred in Erie County’s Groton Township.
Troopers from several patrol posts, turnpike personnel, and first responders from around the area, including the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department, responded. The scene was about 55 miles east of Toledo.
Through traffic on the turnpike did not fully reopen until Saturday evening.
Eastbound traffic had been forced off the turnpike at the State Rt. 53 (Exit 91) near Fremont, while westbound traffic was forced off at U.S. 250 (Exit 118) in Erie County near Milan.
The pileup remains under investigation by the highway patrol.
First Published December 26, 2022, 2:16 a.m.
