Northbound I-77 turned into a miles-long mess at Massillon Road (State Route 241) on Tuesday after a massive chain-reaction crash involving about 23 vehicles shut down the freeway, stalled afternoon traffic and sent drivers scrambling for side streets. Emergency crews and law enforcement worked their way through the tangle of metal to clear wreckage and guide motorists off the interstate as backups grew.
Officials and Delays
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that I-77 northbound was closed at State Route 241 while crews responded to the crash, which involved roughly two dozen vehicles.
Traveler information from the Ohio Department of Transportation showed an estimated 24-minute delay on I-77 north between mile markers 118 and 120, with around 26 minutes needed to get through the affected stretch.
Traffic Impacts and Detours
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office urged drivers to steer clear of the area and use alternate routes while first responders worked the scene. Ramps and nearby surface streets around Massillon Road quickly filled up as traffic was forced off the interstate, turning local roads into their own slow crawl.
Motorists were asked to give crews plenty of room to operate and to plan for heavy delays heading into the evening commute.
Injuries and Investigation
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries following the crash, the Akron Beacon Journal reported. Authorities had not released details on what triggered the pileup as of the initial report, and investigators remained on scene, looking into whether weather or road conditions might have contributed.
I-77’s Trouble Spots
The I-77 corridor through Summit County has racked up a reputation for trouble, with multiple closures in recent years tied to both crashes and construction that routinely turn it into a commuter choke point. Local outlets have documented similar incidents that shut the freeway for hours; see recent coverage from Cleveland 19 for one such example…