Columbus Car Recovery: SR 315 Olentangy River Crash – Feb 2026
- February 13, 2026 – A driver is safe after a vehicle left State Route 315 in Columbus, Ohio, and came to rest on the frozen Olentangy River.
- Columbus police were alerted to the situation when a Kia Soul traveling northbound on SR 315 veered off the highway.
- A Columbus Division of Fire heavy rescue crew responded to the scene and worked to extract the vehicle from the river.
Driver Safely Rescued After Vehicle Lands in Frozen Olentangy River
– A driver is safe after a vehicle left State Route 315 in Columbus, Ohio, and came to rest on the frozen Olentangy River. The incident occurred shortly before 1:40 p.m. On Thursday, according to reports.
Columbus police were alerted to the situation when a Kia Soul traveling northbound on SR 315 veered off the highway. The vehicle reportedly traveled over the Olentangy Trail and down an embankment, eventually landing on its passenger side on the ice of the river, north of Bethel Road.
A Columbus Division of Fire heavy rescue crew responded to the scene and worked to extract the vehicle from the river. Water rescue teams were also deployed to secure the car and ensure the driver’s safe evacuation.
The driver was reportedly outside of the vehicle and safe when firefighters arrived. It remains unclear at this time if the driver received medical treatment at the scene or was transported to a local hospital.
The Sharon Township Fire Department also assisted at the scene, but officials could not immediately be reached for further comment.
The incident caused a significant response from emergency services, highlighting the challenges of responding to incidents involving frozen bodies of water. The Columbus Fire Department’s heavy rescue capabilities were crucial in safely removing the vehicle from the river.
While the cause of the vehicle leaving the roadway is currently unknown, authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The condition of the ice on the Olentangy River also played a role in the rescue operation, requiring specialized equipment and techniques to ensure the safety of both the driver and the rescue personnel.
This incident follows a separate, more extensive traffic event that occurred on , in Indiana, where a 30-vehicle pileup shut down a portion of the Indiana Toll Road due to heavy snow and limited visibility. While unrelated to the Columbus incident, it underscores the dangers of winter driving conditions.
Reporter Shahid Meighan of the Columbus Dispatch was among the first to report on the incident, arriving at the scene shortly after emergency services. He can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, on X as ShahidMeighan, and on Bluesky at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com.