Five Children in Critical Condition After Three-Vehicle Crash on Columbus’ Morse Road

Five children remain in very critical condition after a three-vehicle crash on Columbus’ North Side early Friday. The collision happened just before 7:15 a.m. near Morse Road and Sundance Drive, and it sent seven people to local hospitals.

Columbus police have explained how the crash unfolded. A white Genesis G70 and a blue Ford Escape were traveling east on Morse Road. Meanwhile, a white Toyota Highlander was heading west. According to police, the Highlander crossed left of center and struck the Escape head-on. The force of that impact then pushed the Escape into the Genesis.

All five children were riding in the same vehicle. Medics rushed them to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where they remain in very critical condition. Two adults also suffered serious injuries, and ambulances took them to separate hospitals. Both adults arrived in critical condition. However, by 9:15 a.m., one of them had improved to stable. Another adult driver escaped injury, although officials have not said which vehicle that person was driving.

Emergency crews worked at the scene to free trapped occupants. Police then closed Morse Road in both directions between Westerville Road and Sunbury Road while investigators documented the wreckage. Consequently, morning traffic backed up across the neighborhood for hours.

Investigators have not determined what caused the crash. Nevertheless, they are examining whether sun glare played a role, since the collision happened during the early morning commute. Police have not announced any charges, and they have not released the identities of the people involved.

The crash struck at the start of a school day, and it shook the families who live nearby. Kingsley Amanfo was driving his daughter to school when he reached the scene. He saw police cars and ambulances lining the road, and he found traffic at a standstill. Afterward, he said the intersection area has long worried residents. A traffic light stands down the street, he noted, and congestion has eased somewhat. Even so, crashes keep happening. “I think people have to slow down when they are driving,” Amanfo said.

Another neighbor, Rose Marie, described a chilling coincidence. She had turned back to her house to grab a forgotten watch, and she heard a loud boom moments later. When she stepped outside, she recognized her neighbor’s car and saw the children inside. She now prays daily for the injured kids, and she hopes they recover.

Young residents feel the impact too. Felix Yeboah, a boy who lives in the area, said the crash makes him anxious because the victims are children his age. He believes drivers must pay closer attention to their surroundings, and he urged them to take more care.

These accounts reflect a broader worry about child safety near busy roads. Parents in the neighborhood walk and drive their children to school along Morse Road every morning. Therefore, many of them now want city officials to review the area. They hope leaders will consider added safety measures to protect students and families who rely on this stretch of road.

For now, the focus remains on the children fighting for their recovery. Hospital staff continue to treat them, and the families are waiting for updates. Likewise, police continue to piece together the final moments before the collision. Investigators will study the vehicles, the road conditions and the glare that morning before they draw conclusions.

Drivers should expect continued attention to the area as the investigation moves forward. Sojworldnews will update this story as police and hospital officials release more information.