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Four people died Saturday after a vehicle struck a guardrail and plunged into Mill Creek near the Western Hills Viaduct. A 27-year-old woman survived and remains hospitalized after escaping the submerged vehicle. Her mother, Tracey Jones, told FOX19 that the vehicle flipped several times before entering the creek. Police continue to investigate possible speed and impairment factors.
The Mill Creek crash killed four people Saturday after a vehicle entered the water near Cincinnati’s Western Hills Viaduct.
The crash left one woman hospitalized after the vehicle struck a guardrail and plunged into the creek.
Cincinnati police said the crash happened around 5:50 p.m. Saturday near the dead end of Queen City Avenue, just north of the Western Hills Viaduct.
The vehicle carried five people when it entered Mill Creek. Four people died, while a 27-year-old woman survived and reached the top of the submerged vehicle. Spectrum News reported that the woman told firefighters the other four occupants remained trapped inside.
The survivor’s mother, Tracey Jones, has now described what her daughter told her about the crash. Jones also confirmed that her nephew was among those who died.
Mill Creek crash leaves four people dead
Police said the vehicle struck a guardrail at the end of Queen City Avenue before falling into Mill Creek. The vehicle landed upside down in the water, according to Spectrum News.
Firefighters faced difficult conditions when they arrived. The creek bank was too steep for crews to reach the vehicle without ropes. The water also remained too deep for firefighters to safely walk to the submerged car.
Crews eventually used an inflatable boat to reach the vehicle. They first brought the surviving woman to shore. Two rescuers then entered the water and removed the four remaining occupants.
Firefighters performed resuscitation efforts on the four occupants. The Cincinnati Fire Department said the victims had spent too much time underwater. The four people could not be revived, according to FOX19.
Cincinnati police have not officially released the identities of the four people who died. FOX19 reported Monday that investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Survivor’s mother describes Mill Creek crash
Jones told FOX19 that her daughter sat in the middle of the vehicle’s back seat. She said the vehicle lost control before flipping several times and entering the creek.
Jones estimated that the vehicle flipped about 10 to 15 times before reaching the water. She said the final movements sent the vehicle into the creek, where it quickly submerged.
“She doesn’t even know how she did it, but she did it,” Jones told FOX19 about her daughter’s escape.
Jones said her daughter remains hospitalized after suffering multiple injuries. She described her daughter as bruised and walking with a limp. Jones also said her daughter remains deeply traumatized by the incident.
The latest report provides the first detailed account from the survivor’s family since the crash. It also sheds more light on the difficult rescue that followed.
FOX19 reported that family and friends gathered near the crash site for a balloon release. The gathering honored the people who died while investigators continued their work.
Mill Creek crash investigation examines speed and impairment
Investigators are examining several possible factors in the fatal collision. Spectrum News reported that police are investigating excessive speed and possible impairment.
Police also said the occupants were not wearing seat belts, according to Spectrum News. Investigators have not announced whether either factor caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
The investigation remains active. Cincinnati police are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact the Traffic Unit.
Witnesses can reach the Cincinnati Police Traffic Unit at 513-352-2514, according to Spectrum News.
The crash occurred near a roadway that ends close to Mill Creek. The location sits immediately north of the Western Hills Viaduct, a major Cincinnati transportation connection.
The City of Cincinnati’s Western Hills Viaduct project information says the bridge connects Interstate 75 and major West Side roads with downtown Cincinnati. The viaduct carries more than 55,000 vehicles each day over the Mill Creek Valley. (
The city is also preparing to replace the aging viaduct. Construction preparations for the replacement project are underway, while the existing bridge will remain open during construction.
Mill Creek crash follows other vehicle incidents near creek
The latest Mill Creek crash comes after other vehicles entered the creek near the Western Hills Viaduct area this summer.
WLWT reported in July that a vehicle fell into Mill Creek near Beekman Street and Cummins Street in North Fairmount. No injuries were reported in that incident.
WLWT also reported that another vehicle entered Mill Creek near Queen City Avenue in South Fairmount in June. Firefighters rescued the driver from an upside-down vehicle after using ropes and specialized rescue equipment.
The incidents have drawn attention to the difficult terrain around the creek. Steep banks and deep water can complicate rescue operations when vehicles leave nearby roads.
The City of Cincinnati has previously described the Western Hills Viaduct as a double-decker structure built in the early 1930s. The bridge spans the Mill Creek Valley and connects several major roads and Interstate 75.
The Cincinnati Exchange has also reported on regional transportation projects involving the viaduct. Readers can review the latest Cincinnati traffic updates and earlier coverage of Western Hills Viaduct replacement plans for additional context.
Mill Creek crash victims remain unidentified
Police have not yet publicly identified the four people who died. Their families and friends have begun mourning the victims as investigators work to establish what happened.
Jones told FOX19 that her nephew was among the four people killed. She described the group as young and hardworking and said they had businesses of their own.
The survivor remains hospitalized following the crash. FOX19 reported that she suffered bruising, difficulty walking and significant emotional trauma.
Authorities have not announced any charges related to the crash. Investigators also have not released a final determination about the cause.
The Cincinnati Police Department continues to investigate the collision. Officials are asking witnesses with information about the vehicle’s movements before the crash to contact the Traffic Unit.
The investigation could provide additional information about speed, impairment, seat belt use and the events that caused the vehicle to leave Queen City Avenue.
For now, four families are mourning deaths from the crash while the sole survivor recovers in a Cincinnati hospital.
FAQs
What happened in the Mill Creek crash?
A 2019 Infiniti Q50 carrying five people struck a guardrail near the dead end of Queen City Avenue. The vehicle plunged into Mill Creek and landed upside down, killing four occupants.
Did anyone survive the Mill Creek crash?
Yes. A 27-year-old woman survived and reached a portion of the vehicle above the water. She was taken to the hospital, and FOX19 later reported that her mother described serious physical and emotional injuries.
What caused the vehicle to enter Mill Creek?
Police have not announced a final cause. Investigators are examining excessive speed and possible impairment as contributing factors.
Have police identified the four people who died?
No. Cincinnati police had not officially identified the four victims as of the latest FOX19 report. The investigation remains ongoing.
