Three people lost their lives and three others were injured in a nine-vehicle crash on Interstate 71 near U.S. 36/Route 37 in Delaware County on the evening of April 11.
At 6 p.m. on April 11, a 2006 Freightliner semi-truck was traveling northbound on I-71 and failed to stop as it approached traffic backed up in the northbound lanes, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The truck slammed into the line of vehicles, killing a couple from Ashley and their 1-year-old child, while injuring three others.
Emergency crews transported the injured victims to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, the patrol said. The crash forced officials to shut down both sides of I-71 for several hours.
Here’s what we know about the crash so far.
Dublin veterinarian and family killed in crash
Dr. Lynnea Soposki, 36, a veterinarian at Muirfield Animal Hospital in Dublin, died in the I-71 crash along with her husband, Luke Soposki, 37, and their 1-year-old son, Logan. Public records show the family lived in Ashley in Delaware County.
Lynnea graduated in 2016 from the The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, according to her biography on Muirfield’s website. She focused professionally on feline medicine, geriatric care, behavior, neurology, and musculoskeletal conditions.
Outside of her career, she enjoyed beekeeping with her husband, spending time with family, reading, hiking, and working out, according to her biography. The couple sold jars of honey through their beekeeping business, Queenright Cabin Apiary.
Luke Soposki worked as an analytical chemist at Mettler-Toledo International in Columbus, according to his LinkedIn profile. He had been with the company for more than six years after starting in July 2019.
He graduated from the State University of New York at Oneonta, earning a bachelor of science degree in biology in 2010 and a post-baccalaureate certificate in secondary education and teaching in 2011.
Luke also owned a beer brewing business, Blue Quill Brewing Company, and previously placed as an individual in home-brewing competitions, including multiple categories in beer and cider at the Ohio State Fair in 2017, The Dispatch reported.
Muirfield Animal Hospital shared news of the deaths of Lynnea and her family in an April 13 Instagram post.
Columbus resident arrested after crash
Police arrested Modou F. Ngom, 50, of Columbus, and booked him into the Delaware County Jail on a $500,000 bond on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide. Authorities said he was driving the semi-truck that crashed into the stopped vehicles.
His next court appearance, a preliminary hearing, is scheduled for April 21. Officials will cancel the hearing if a grand jury indicts Ngom, as prosecutors have indicated more charges could be filed.
Why was there construction on the I-71 ramp?
The crash happened within a construction zone tied to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Improved Interchange at I-71/U.S. 36/SR 37 and Proposed Sunbury Parkway project. As part of the work, ODOT reduced the northbound I-71 ramp to U.S. 36/SR 37 to a single lane starting April 8, with the restriction expected to remain in place through the fall.
ODOT said investigators will examine whether the construction zone contributed to the crash.
What is the Sunbury Parkway project?
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Improved Interchange at I-71/U.S. 36/SR 37 and Proposed Sunbury Parkway project is a seven-phase, $31 million initiative to construct a combined interchange for Interstate 71 and U.S. 36/Route 37, along with a new east-west roadway—Sunbury Parkway—connecting Delaware and Sunbury.
According to an ODOT Purpose and Need report, the project aims to ease congestion and enhance safety at the interchange and its connecting routes, support future growth in Delaware County, and improve east-west connectivity across the area.
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