​On Thursday, August 15, 2024, about 5:29 a.m. eastern daylight time, a 2015 Toyota Highlander sport utility vehicle (SUV), occupied by the driver and three passengers, was traveling east on the Ohio Turnpike, Interstate 80 near Swanton Township, Lucas County, Ohio. The SUV was traveling in the left lane and decelerated while changing lanes across the path of a 2019 Mack combination vehicle to exit to the low speed toll booth lanes at the Swanton Township Toll Plaza. The combination vehicle, occupied by the truck driver, struck the SUV, veered to the right, struck a concrete barrier dividing the high- and low speed toll lanes, and overturned. As a result of the collision, two SUV passengers died, the driver and one passenger were seriously injured, and the driver of the combination vehicle was seriously injured.​

​We determined that the probable cause of the Swanton crash was the sport utility vehicle (SUV) driver’s deceleration and lane change into the eastbound right lane of the turnpike high speed lanes and across the path of the combination vehicle. Contributing to the SUV driver’s performance was reduced situation awareness, likely due to fatigue. Contributing to the SUV driver’s decision to change lanes was the lack of signage stating that missed tolls could be paid online. Contributing to the severity of the crash was the large speed differential between the two vehicles, which did not give the truck driver sufficient opportunity to slow down or avoid the collision. Contributing to the severity of injuries, including death, was the lack of seat belt use by several occupants.

​As a result of this investigation, we made the following new safety recommendations: 

To the Federal Highway Administration: 

• Update the standards and guidance in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways pertaining to traffic control devices regulating and guiding motorists through toll facilities, including signage that informs drivers about fully electronic tolling options, not just transponder-based tolling. (H-26-10) 
• Create and distribute updated guidance on current best practices for toll road operators that addresses the safety benefits of fully electronic tolling. (H-26-11) 

To the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission: 

• ​Work together with Springfield Township to expedite completing the planned turnpike access point to improve emergency response times on the turnpike in the vicinity of the Swanton Township Toll Plaza. (H-26-12) 
• Conduct a systemwide evaluation of the Ohio Turnpike to determine whether additional access points are needed to improve emergency response times, with emphasis on locations requiring actions similar to those currently in progress to improve turnpike access in the vicinity of the Swanton Township Toll Plaza, and make the results available to the public. (H-26-13) ​
• If the systemwide evaluation of the Ohio Turnpike (recommended in Safety Recommendation H-26-13) determines that additional access points are needed, build those access points to improve emergency response times. (H-26-14) 
• Implement safety improvements, consistent with the 2023 Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, at the following four toll plazas: Westgate Toll Plaza, Swanton Township Toll Plaza, Newton Falls Toll Plaza, and Eastgate Toll Plaza to reduce unsafe driver behaviors, such as last-minute lane changes and large speed differentials. (H-26-15)
  
• ​Implement fully electronic high-speed tolling and permanently close the low-speed lanes at the Westgate Toll Plaza, Swanton Township Toll Plaza, Newton Falls Toll Plaza, and Eastgate Toll Plaza, and provide the National Transportation Safety Board with a timeframe for doing so. (H-26-16)