Valley Township, OH (March 31, 2025) – A crash involving three semi-trucks shut down northbound Interstate 77 near milepost 39 for nearly seven hours last Tuesday and is now under investigation by the Ohio Highway Patrol.
Incident Details: The crash occurred around 10:37 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-77 in Guernsey County, where traffic had slowed due to a previous incident. A Freightliner semi driven by Shi Chen, 62, of Canada, failed to maintain a safe distance and collided with a Peterbilt semi driven by Karal Cordon, 44, of Cambridge. Cordon’s truck was forced off the left side of the highway. Chen’s vehicle then struck another Freightliner semi driven by Laura Karan, 43, of Pennsylvania, which was stopped in traffic. One person suffered minor injuries, and debris from broken glass cargo was scattered across the road.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: The investigation is ongoing, but early findings suggest that failure to maintain adequate distance led to the chain-reaction crash. In commercial vehicle accidents, injured parties may pursue personal injury claims, and drivers or carriers may be held liable for unsafe driving or cargo-related hazards. Given the severity and commercial nature of the crash, multiple claims could arise from this incident.
Wishing those affected a full recovery.
Source: The Daily Jeffersonian