The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Swanton Post is investigating a fatal crash that occurred early Sunday morning on the Ohio Turnpike near milepost 77 in Sandusky County.
Troopers reported the crash happened around 12:19 a.m. in the eastbound lanes when a 2014 Ford Mustang, driven by 20-year-old Blade Campbell of Sandusky, struck the rear of a 2000 International tractor-trailer operated by 69-year-old Roderick Rife of Sterling Heights, Michigan. After the collision, the Mustang veered into the middle lane, striking a 2025 Ford Bronco driven by William Evans, 47, of University Heights.
Both the Mustang and tractor-trailer went off the roadway and hit a concrete median wall, causing the tractor-trailer to catch fire. Rife died at the scene. Campbell was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while Evans was uninjured.
