COLUMBUS – A single-vehicle fatal accident shut down the eastbound lanes of the North Outerbelt for the entire morning rush-hour, causing significant delays and gridlock on surface roads on the Northwest Side and into southern Delaware County as motorists were forced to find alternate routes to work and school.
David Robers, 38, of Dublin, was killed when he lost control of his 2006 Jeep while eastbound on I-270 in Sharon Township at approximately 3:57 a.m., Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said.
The vehicle struck the concrete barrier on east of U.S. Route 23 and came to rest in the eastbound lanes facing west.
Robers was pronounced dead at the scene at 04:11 a.m., Baldwin said
There is no indication that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the incident, which remains under investigation, Baldwin said.
The eastbound lanes of I-270 were closed between State Route 315 and I-71, as well as the entrance ramps from SR 315 and US 23 to the interstate from shortly after the accident until just before 8:00 a.m.
Alternate routes such as State Route 161 and Powell Road experience significant traffic backups as a result of the overflow traffic being rerouted from I-270.