Reckless I-71 Driver: “I didn’t want to get any closer to Cincinnati”
By now, you’ve likely seen this video:
The incident occurred last Wednesday just before 5:30 p.m. on I-71 South near downtown Columbus, Ohio. It left many people scratching their heads and asking questions: What was the driver thinking? How could they be so stupid?
After much back and forth, the driver agreed to sit down with Battle Line to share his side of the story. The following is a transcript of our exclusive interview with Noah N. Shurantz, 45, of Mount Gilead, Ohio.
Battle Line: Let’s start with the obvious. What made you stop right there, in the middle of a busy highway?
Noah Shurantz: It was not my intention to stop there or even to get off at that exit. But then I saw the sign that said “Cincinnati.”
BL: There are signs like that all over the state. What about that sign specifically made you stop and want to exit?
NS: I got in a really bad accident in Cincinnati last summer, and I’ve had an intense fear of the place ever since. Seeing that I was heading toward Cincinnati triggered my PTSD and I tensed up.
BL: Who was at fault in the accident last summer?
NS: Ongoing investigation.
BL: Ongoing? After almost a year?
NS: The other guy still hasn’t come to.
BL: I see. Sounds like a pretty big collision. Were you injured?
NS: No. Fortunately, I wasn’t going very fast.
BL: Was the other guy? Going fast, that is.
NS: Pretty fast for a bicycle.
BL: I see.
NS: By the way, I’m not the only person who tries to avoid Cincinnati at all costs.
BL: What do you mean?
NS: Look at all the cars that were headed north. I mean, they were bumper to bumper, like they were fleeing a hurricane.
BL: It was evening rush hour and many people were heading home. In the mornings, I-71 southbound looks like that. Traffic patterns are often predictable in that way.
NS: I’ll have to do some more research.
BL: Let’s move on. This happened near downtown Columbus, which is more than 100 miles from Cincinnati. You probably had another 50 chances to exit before you reached the Queen City.
NS: Queen City?
BL: It’s a nickname for Cincinnati.
NS: Oh. I suppose you’re right. But what if I would have missed the next 50 exits? It’s not out of the question. I can be very indecisive.
BL: We’ve seen the video.
NS: Exactly. I didn’t want to take any chances, which is why I stopped where I did.
BL: In the middle lane of an interstate.
NS: That’s right.
BL: Let’s talk about you driving away after the multi-car collision. In hindsight, do you think that was the right thing to do?
NS: By that point, the traffic around me had slowed and the right lane opened up. Plus, I knew police and paramedics would be rushing to the scene. I didn’t want to get in their way or impede their important work. So I fled – err – I mean, drove away.
BL: Yes, but it was your actions that caused the pileup in the first place. Don’t you think you should have stayed there and accepted responsibility?
NS: Cars stop on the freeway all the time. Again, look at the northbound lane. They were barely moving at all.
BL: Is there anything you’d like to say to the drivers who collided behind you?
NS: I’m glad no one was hurt. And I’m sorry this whole thing happened. But I also hope they understand that, sometimes, people need to come to sudden, unexpected stops while driving. Just ask that bicyclist in Cincinnati. I bet he wishes I would have stopped more suddenly than I did.
BL: Is that so?
NS: Well, if you asked him that right now, I doubt he’d say anything at all.
BL: We’ll leave it at that. Thank you, Noah, for sharing your side of the story with Battle Line. Please be safe driving home.