![\"WLWT](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/wlwt.png\")
<\/p>\nSeries of crashes near Lebanon bring southbound lanes on I-71 to standstill<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFRIDAY. WE\u2019LL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE. COMING UP. MEGAN. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND NOW TO THAT BREAKING NEWS. A SERIES OF CRASHES SHUTTING DOWN ALL LANES OF 71 SOUTH IN LEBANON WITH TRAFFIC BACKED UP FOR MILES. WLWT NEWS 5 GIACOMO LUCA IS TRYING TO GET THERE, DEALING WITH THE RAIN AND THE TRAFFIC. GIACOMO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THESE ACCIDENTS? WELL, STEVE, I CAN TELL YOU IT\u2019S TAKING ONE HECK OF A MESS OUT HERE EARLY THIS MORNING. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE\u2019RE SEEING ALREADY. OF COURSE THE NORTHBOUND LANES. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, OFF TO THE LEFT. OF COURSE, WITH ALL THAT RAIN, IT\u2019S A LITTLE TOUGH TO SEE A LITTLE BLURRY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD HERE WITH ALL THIS RAIN COMING DOWN. BUT THAT\u2019S THE LINE OF TRAFFIC THAT YOU CAN SEE STRETCHES JUST OVER THREE MILES AFTER THE SERIES OF CRASHES HAPPENED AROUND 130 THIS MORNING. LET\u2019S GET TO WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR. OKAY, SO THE OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THEY RESPONDED, DISPATCHERS THERE, THEY TELL US THIS ALL STARTED WITH THAT FIRST CRASH ALONG I-71 SOUTH AT 130 THIS MORNING. IT\u2019S REALLY UNCLEAR WHAT CAUSED THAT, BUT IT WAS BETWEEN A SEMI AND A SEDAN. WE\u2019RE ALSO TOLD THAT SEMI IS LEAKING DIESEL FUEL RIGHT NOW. SO THAT\u2019S BEEN A CHALLENGE BECAUSE ODOT CREWS NEED TO GET OUT TO TRY TO HELP CLEAN THAT UP. THERE WAS A SECOND CRASH THAT HAPPENED AFTER A SEMI COLLIDED WITH A RESPONDING FIRE ENGINE. THAT FIRE ENGINE, OF COURSE, GOING TO THAT FIRST INCIDENT, TRYING TO HELP CLEAR THAT UP. AND THEN ANOTHER INCIDENT HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, NO INJURIES IN THAT ONE. BUT THEN THERE WAS ALSO A THIRD CRASH THAT HAPPENED ON THE 71 SOUTH RAMP FROM STATE ROUTE 48. IT WAS A COUPLE OF SEMIS. THERE IS A OIL SPILL THERE AND JUST TALKED TO SOME DEPUTIES WITH THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF\u2019S OFFICE. THEY SAY THEY HAVE A TOW TRUCK OUT THERE TRYING TO GET THAT ONE CLEARED UP, BUT THIS IS LIKELY TO REMAIN QUITE A BIT OF A MESS FOR A WHILE NOW. OF COURSE, ODOT, THEY ARE WORKING TO GET SOME OF THESE SPILLS CLEANED UP. THEY\u2019RE ALSO TRYING TO OPEN UP AT LEAST A SINGLE LANE TO TRY TO LET SOME TRAFFIC MOVE THROUGH. IT HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL HOURS NOW. I EVEN SAW ONE CAR IN THAT LINE OF TRAFFIC WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. SO IT JUST KIND OF SHOWS YOU THAT FOLKS ARE PREPARED THERE TO SIT AND WAIT. BUT OF COURSE, IF YOU\u2019RE DRIVING THIS WAY, IF THIS IS PART OF YOUR COMMUTE, YOU\u2019RE DEFINITELY GOING TO WANT TO TRY TO FIND MAYBE ANOTHER WAY AROUND THAT OR BE PREPARED TO BE SITTING IN TRAFFIC FOR A WHILE, AT LEAST UNTIL WE CAN GET YOU AN UPDATE FROM OFFICIALS ON WHEN THAT COULD OPEN UP. WE\u2019RE LIVE THIS MORNING IN LEBANON. GIACOMO LUCA WLWT NEWS FIVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. STAY SAFE OUT THERE. THIS IS A LOOK SOUTHWEST FROM THE TRAFFIC CAMS IN THIS DIRECTION. IT\u2019S HARD TO SEE BECAUSE OF ALL THE RAIN FALLING RIGHT NOW. BUT IT IS A PARKING LOT BACKED UP ALL THE WAY TO 123, A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE. IF YOU KNOW THIS AREA, THERE\u2019S NOT A LOT OF PLACES TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY THERE, SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD. MAYBE GO UP TO 48 AND COME DOWN AND JUST DO YOUR BEST. LOOKING AT HERE, LOOKING AT THE BIGGER MAP AND EVERYTHING, THIS IS WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH. YOU SEE THE CLOSURE, BUT YOU SEE THE RED BLOB OF WEATHER. ON TOP OF THAT, YOU SAW IN GIACOMO SHOT. SO ALL THESE FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS ARE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND ALSO STAY SAFE AT THE VERY SAME TIME, BUT IT\u2019S GOING TO BE CLOSED FOR A CONSIDERABLE TIME. SO WE TALK ABOUT THAT DETOUR. IT\u2019S A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE UP THERE, MAYBE UP TO COME DOWN HERE THROUGH 123 AND DOWN WITH 48 COMES THROUGH THAT DIRECTION AS WELL IN 32 IN THIS DIRECTION HERE AT THE SAME TIME. SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY TRYING TO MEET YOU OR, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMMUTING FROM THE COLUMBUS DIRECTION, THEY\u2019RE GOING TO BE HELD UP. WELL, OF COURSE, LET YOU KNOW WHEN THEY GET THAT O\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Series of crashes near Lebanon bring southbound lanes on I-71 to standstill<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tUpdated: 5:43 AM EDT May 20, 2026\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\tEditorial Standards \u24d8<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\tA series of crashes has shut down all lanes of Interstate 71 south in Lebanon, with traffic backed up for miles.Traffic has been at a standstill since around 1:30 a.m.. WLWT’s Giacomo Luca is in the backup, which stretches more than three miles.The Ohio State Highway Patrol has responded to the scene. Dispatchers say it all started with a crash between a sedan and a semi-truck. Two people were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries are unclear.The big rig also spilled some diesel, and crews are working to get that cleaned up.Then, a semi wrecked into a fire engine that was responding to the initial incident. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from that crash.Finally, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office says they responded to a third crash, on the I-71 south ramp from State Route 48. No injuries were reported, but one of the big rigs did leak oil. Officials needed to call in a tow truck to get the semi out of the way.OSP is now investigating those incidents while they coordinate with the Ohio Department of Transportation. ODOT is working to get the far left lane open to try to get traffic flowing as officials clear the scene.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tLEBANON, Ohio \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n A series of crashes has shut down all lanes of Interstate 71 south in Lebanon, with traffic backed up for miles.<\/p>\n Traffic has been at a standstill since around 1:30 a.m.. WLWT’s Giacomo Luca is in the backup, which stretches more than three miles.<\/p>\n The Ohio State Highway Patrol has responded to the scene. Dispatchers say it all started with a crash between a sedan and a semi-truck. Two people were taken to the hospital, but the extent of their injuries are unclear.<\/p>\n The big rig also spilled some diesel, and crews are working to get that cleaned up.<\/p>\n Then, a semi wrecked into a fire engine that was responding to the initial incident. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported from that crash.<\/p>\n \n\tThis content is imported from Twitter. Trying to get around this mess?
\n\tYou may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.\n<\/p>\n
-Take 123 West to SR42 and you can get on 741 that will take you back to 71SB
-Take 123 West to SR48
-Take 123 East to Morrow\/22@WLWT<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/NgKzvyKSzX<\/a><\/p>\n