Columbus police detectives are hunting for a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene of a fatal crash on Interstate 670 early Sunday morning. The multi-vehicle wreck took the life of 22-year-old Jordan Decker and injured several others near the State Route 315 exit ramp. Investigators believe a smaller SUV involved in the chain reaction sped off into the night before officers reached the crash site.
The crash happened around 1:27 a.m. on I-670 westbound near Grandview Avenue. Decker was driving a Hyundai Elantra when her car collided with a Dodge Challenger and a Dodge Ram pickup truck. The force of the collision threw debris across the highway and left all three vehicles heavily damaged in the middle of the road.
Emergency dispatchers sent police officers and paramedics to the scene within minutes of the initial 911 calls. First responders found Decker inside her damaged Hyundai, but efforts to save her failed, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Hospital units transported the surviving drivers and passengers to local medical centers for urgent treatment.
Witnesses at the scene told officers that a fourth vehicle, described as a compact or smaller SUV, was right next to the crash when it happened. Instead of stopping to render aid or talk to officers, the driver of the SUV accelerated and fled the scene westbound down the freeway. Police are reviewing regional traffic cameras and license plate readers along I-670 to identify the fleeing car.
Leaving the scene of a fatal crash carries severe legal consequences under Ohio law, ranging from license suspensions to major felony charges. Law enforcement officials noted that this stretch of I-670 has seen similar hit-and-run incidents in recent months, making safety along the downtown corridor a growing concern for local authorities.
Crash investigators shut down the westbound lanes of I-670 beyond State Route 315 for several hours to record evidence and clear the wreckage. Officers mapped out impact points, gathered physical fragments from the vehicles, and interviewed drivers who pulled over to help after the crash.
The Accident Investigation Unit is urging anyone with information about the small SUV or the crash to speak up immediately. Witnesses can reach Columbus police investigators at 614-645-4767 or submit confidential details to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.
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