NTSB issues new toll-plaza recommendations
The National Transportation Safety Board said on September 16 that a fatal 2024 crash at the Swanton Township Toll Plaza on Interstate 80 near Swanton, Ohio, could have been avoided with fully electronic tolling and clearer information about payment options. The board recommended that the Ohio Turnpike permanently close its low-speed toll lanes and implement fully electronic tolling. It also asked the Federal Highway Administration to develop guidance on the safety benefits of fully electronic toll collection.
What happened in the crash
On August 15, 2024, an SUV traveling in the left-side high-speed toll lanes slowed suddenly and crossed toward the low-speed manual toll booths on the right. It moved into the path of a truck-trailer, which struck the SUV from behind and overturned. Two SUV passengers died, two other occupants were seriously injured and the truck driver was seriously injured. Sulfonic acid carried by the truck spilled after the rollover, although NTSB reported no injuries from chemical exposure.
Investigators found a repeated lane-change hazard
NTSB concluded that the hybrid plaza design increased severe-crash risk by combining high-speed electronic lanes with separated low-speed manual lanes, creating large speed differences and encouraging sudden cross-lane movements. Video recorded over three weeks showed 1,099 similar last-second lane changes—an average of 52 per day—including vehicles crossing the marked separation area. Investigators also found that emergency response was delayed by limited direct access to the toll road and recommended evaluating additional emergency access points.
The recommendation does not change today’s traffic controls
An NTSB safety recommendation identifies corrective action but does not itself close a lane, change a tolling rule or authorize a driver to ignore current signs. Until a road operator implements a change, drivers must follow the posted lane controls, speed limits, payment instructions and carrier routing plan in effect at that location. Check the turnpike’s current official information before a trip rather than assuming every Interstate 80 toll facility operates the same way.
Driver and fleet takeaway
Choose the correct toll lane well before the plaza, maintain enough following distance for unexpected braking and anticipate that nearby motorists may cut across at the last moment. If the intended lane is missed, do not cross a gore area or force a sudden multi-lane move; continue safely and resolve the toll through the road operator’s official process. Fleets should equip trucks with the appropriate transponder, include toll-lane instructions in route notes and never pressure a driver into a last-second maneuver to avoid a fee or delay. Drivers and occupants should remain properly belted, and hazmat operations should confirm emergency information and cargo documentation before departure.
National Transportation Safety Board — Ohio Toll Plaza Crash Investigation
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