OXFORD TWP (Tusco TV) - New Philadelphia Post troopers have released the identity of the wrong-way driver killed early Sunday morning after driving off a closed bridge on I-77.

Sgt. William Bower says 33-year-old Kari Kerley of Cleveland entered the interstate at the southbound on-ramp near Newcomerstown then turned her SUV around and began traveling north in the southbound lanes. Bower says that part of the road is currently closed down due to the bridge being out.

“All the traffic for that area is diverted into the northbound side. Even southbound has to go across the bridge on the northbound side because coming southbound that bridge is completely out right now.” 

Bower says the SUV ended up traveling off the end of the bridge, went airborne, and struck a bridge abutment. 

“The bridge abutment is the portion that would basically hold the bridge up. That was still standing. So the bridge was gone but the bridge abutment, which would be a part of the bridge that would basically hold the bridge up, so she hits that and then falls down onto 36.”

Bower says the Kerley was pronounced dead at the scene and wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. He says they’re still investigating for possible contributing factors. 

TUSCO TV