Driver of Smart Car killed in crash on I-75 identified

UPDATE @6:35 a.m. 10/1: Stephanie Clark, 33, of Dayton, died in the crash, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Clark was driving a 2008 Smart Car on southbound I-75 when a back tire blew out. The car traveled into the grass median and overturned, and Clark was thrown from the car.

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Clark was not wearing a seat belt, according to OSP.

The crash remains under investigation.

UPDATE @ 9:37 p.m.: A  blown tire led to the fatal crash on I-75 tonight in Miami Twp., said Sgt. Vee Witcher, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Piqua Post.

A woman was thrown from the vehicle, which rolled several times before coming to rest in the grassy median. Witnesses said the right rear tire blew out and the driver lost control of the vehicle as it headed south in the left lane, Sgt. Witcher said.

The driver was not wearing a seat belt, he said.

There is no indication speed was a factor in the crash, but a state patrol accident reconstruction team was on scene to evaluate skid marks, the damage pattern and other aspects of the accident, he said.

UPDATE @ 9:14 p.m.:

A female has been identified as the victim in the fatal accident on I-75, just south of the Austin Boulevard exit, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

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A Montgomery County Coroner's Office vehicle is on scene, which is the grassy median where the car appears to have overturned and the victim appears to have been ejected.

All northbound lanes are open; the left southbound lane remains closed for the investigation.

UPDATE @ 7:55 p.m.:

There is a sheet covering what appears to be a fatality from the vehicle accident on I-75 just south of the Austin Boulevard exit.

The victim is in the grassy median. Authorities are trying to determine whether the car was headed north or south on I-75.

There are two northbound lanes open (far right and center) and there are two lanes southbound open (center and right).

INITIAL REPORT

Law enforcement and medic units are on I-75, in the area of the Austin Boulevard exit, for a serious vehicle accident.

The crash was reported just after 7:30 p.m. North and southbound traffic in the area has slowed because of the accident.

We have a crew very near the scene and we will update this developing report as we learn more.

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