Van Slams Brakes on Highway, Causes Pileup, Then Drives Off

It’s something that almost doesn’t feel real until you see the footage. A red van, stopped completely still in the middle of Interstate 71 in Ohio, set off a multi-car wreck — and then just… drove away. Not even a glance back.

One Missed Exit, Four Cars, and a Chain Reaction

The video, released by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), shows what happened with unsettling clarity. The van, traveling in the middle lane of the highway, seemed to realize — a little too late — that it had missed an exit. Instead of continuing on and correcting the mistake a few miles later, the driver stopped. Right there. In the middle of fast-moving traffic.

Two cars behind the van managed to stop just in time. But a third vehicle couldn’t. It smashed into the back of the second car, starting a chain reaction that crumpled bumpers and sent metal twisting across the asphalt.

The Van Took the Exit Anyway

What’s maybe even more frustrating is what the van did next. After triggering the pileup, it simply turned and took the very **exit** it had stopped for — the one it had almost missed. Then it vanished.

ODOT used the incident as a public reminder, posting it on Facebook with a bit of dry sarcasm. “When you miss your exit, do you: A) keep driving and take the next one, or B) come to a full stop in traffic and cause a crash?” Their answer: “NEVER B.”

No Serious Injuries, But Plenty of Damage

Despite how bad it looked, officials say the crash didn’t result in any life-threatening injuries. That’s lucky. Vehicles involved weren’t so fortunate — they clearly took a beating.

ODOT didn’t confirm how many people were checked by emergency responders, but damage to at least three vehicles was visible in the shared footage.

Police Still Looking for the Driver

As of the last update, law enforcement hadn’t identified the van’s driver. The video’s making the rounds online, but so far, there’s no word on whether charges will be filed or if any witnesses have come forward. Local police in Columbus were contacted for comment, but — at least for now — haven’t responded.

If you’re wondering what to actually do if you miss an exit, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers basic driving safety guidelines that all of us, hopefully, still remember from driver’s ed. Stopping in_