LATEST: Driver ejected, killed in I-70 crash that shut down eastbound lanes in Clay Twp. 5 hours

CLAY TOWNSHIP — LATEST (10:15 p.m.): The driver of a Nissan NV Cargo van was ejected and suffered fatal injuries Wednesday afternoon when the van was driven off the left side of Interstate 70, near state Route 49 in Clay Township, and struck the end of a section of guardrail, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

The van continued into the grassy median and hit an overhead traffic sign post, the impact of which ejected the driver. The van caught fire.

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The driver died at the scene of the accident, which occurred just after 4:30 p.m., the patrol said. Initial dispatch reports located the accident near Brookville-Phillipsburg Road.

The driver’s name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, Sgt. Ryan Purpura said in a media release Wednesday night.

I-70 east was shut down at Arlington Road approximately five hours. Those lanes reopened just before 9:30 p.m.

A pole or poles attached to overhead traffic signs needed to be replaced. That work was not completed Wednesday night.

We will update this report when the driver’s name is released.

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