Fatal I-71 Pileup: Semi Fails to Stop in Construction Zone, Kills Three

A nine-vehicle collision on Interstate 71 in Delaware, Ohio claimed three lives on Saturday evening when a Freightliner tractor-trailer failed to stop for backed-up traffic in a construction zone. Key Details The crash occurred around 6:27 p.m. on April 11 at the US-36/SR-37 interchange during the Sunbury Parkway construction project. Driver Modou F. Ngom, 50, was operating the semi northbound when he failed to brake for slowed vehicles ahead, causing a multi-vehicle impact with immediate fire. Why It Matters A family of three - a 37-year-old man, 36-year-old woman, and one-year-old child from Ashley, Ohio - died in a Chevy Silverado. Three additional victims sustained serious but non-fatal injuries. Eyewitness accounts described the incident as catastrophic, with the pickup truck's driver side completely mangled. Next Steps Ngom faces vehicular homicide charges and is being held at Delaware County Jail. The Ohio Department of Transportation is investigating how construction conditions may have contributed to the crash. The probe will examine traffic control measures, signage visibility, and whether adequate warning systems were in place for the construction zone.