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Fatal crash on I-70

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A fatal accident cost a passenger his life Thursday morning and blocked westbound traffic on Interstate 70.

According to the highway patrol, the incident involved two eastbound vehicles at mile marker 214.

“It was a two-vehicle, non-contact crash,” said Sgt. Joe Weaver of the Ohio State Highway Patrol in St. Clairsville. “The vehicle made an unsafe lane change and caused a vehicle to go off the left side of the roadway into the median and roll over several times.”

He said each vehicle had a driver and a passenger, and the passenger in the rolled vehicle was killed. Weaver said names were not being released as of Thursday night, but more information may be forthcoming today. He said it was a man who died.

“The passenger of the car that rolled over in the median was ejected and died as a result of his injuries,” said Weaver said who also said the driver of the car that rolled over suffered a minor injury and will be treated and released.

Traffic was stalled while officers and emergency response personnel worked the scene.

“I-70 westbound was closed because the car rolled across the median into the westbound lane,” he said. “I-70 westbound was close for approximately two hours.

“There was a lot of traffic,” said Weaver.

Cumberland Trail Assistant Fire Chief Tim Hall said westbound traffic was back up to at least the I-70/I-470 split.

Weaver said the matter was still under investigation and no one has been charged as of Thursday night.

In addition to the highway patrol and the fire district, the Belmont County Coroner’s Office also responded.

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