- Jodi Tackett, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene after a wrong-way driver struck two vehicles parked on the left shoulder of I-270 South near Georgesville Road at approximately 2:41 a.m. on April 13, 2026.
- Columbus Police charged Jaricah Wright with aggravated vehicular homicide following the collision.
- I-270 South was closed for several hours before reopening at approximately 7:15 a.m.
One person is dead and another remains in critical condition after a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 270 South near Georgesville Road on the city’s west side. Columbus Police officers were called to the scene at 2:41 a.m. after an Audi A4 struck two vehicles parked on the left shoulder. Columbus Police charged the Audi’s driver, Jaricah Wright, with aggravated vehicular homicide.
Fatal Impact on I-270 South at Georgesville Road
Two people were changing a tire on a Toyota minivan stopped on the left shoulder of I-270 near Georgesville Road. Jodi Tackett, 45, was seated in a Toyota Corolla parked approximately 50 feet behind the minivan.
Wright’s Audi swerved off the left side of the interstate, struck the rear of the Corolla, and launched it into the minivan. Tackett was pronounced dead at the scene, Columbus Division of Police records show. A second person sustained critical injuries and was transported to Grant Medical Center.
The crash site sits near the Georgesville Square commercial corridor, less than a mile from the interchange at West Broad Street.
Jaricah Wright Charged With Aggravated Vehicular Homicide
Traffic camera footage obtained through a public records request from the Ohio Department of Transportation shows Wright’s silver Audi making a U-turn from West Broad Street onto the on-ramp, traveling the wrong direction on I-270 before self-correcting.
After the crash, Wright fled the scene on foot but was taken into custody a short distance away on Georgesville Square Drive.
Court records show Wright was charged three times in 2024 for driving on a suspended license. Those charges were dismissed after she pleaded guilty to an OVI. She filed a motion to withdraw that guilty plea in March 2026 and remains on probation.
Per Franklin County Municipal Court records, Wright appeared before a judge Friday. A $1 million bond was set at that hearing. Her next scheduled court date is Friday at 10 a.m.
I-270 Reopens After Hours-Long Closure; Safety Resources for West Side Commuters
Columbus Division of Police and ODOT closed I-270 South for several hours following the collision. The highway reopened at approximately 7:15 a.m.
Motorists who regularly use the I-270 and West Broad Street interchange are advised to monitor ODOT’s real-time traffic portal at ohgo.com for lane alerts and incident updates.
Drivers who witness wrong-way vehicles on Central Ohio interstates should call 911 immediately and avoid attempting to pass or signal the vehicle.
Sources
- Columbus Division of Police, Incident Report and Press Briefing, April 13, 2026
- Ohio Department of Transportation, Traffic Camera Records, April 13, 2026
- Franklin County Municipal Court, Case Records, April 14–18, 2026
- Grant Medical Center, Patient Status Confirmation via CPD, April 13, 2026
Author
Jonathan Pierce | ColumbusFrontline.com Reporter covering public safety, traffic infrastructure, and criminal courts on Columbus’s west side.
Last Updated: April 23, 2026 at 09:00 ET
This report is based on information available at time of publication. Details may change as the investigation continues. ColumbusFrontline.com will update this article as new information is confirmed.