A 22-year-old Ohio State senior died Thursday evening after a pulley from a tow truck snapped loose and crashed through her car windshield on Interstate-270, west of U.S. Route 62, said deputies of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Danielle Nicole Knapp, formerly of Marion, died at Grant Medical Center at 8:45 p.m., said Janet Porter, hospital spokeswoman of the Ohio Health Communications.
Knapp was driving westbound on I-270 when her Pontiac Grand Prix was struck by the pulley, said Corporal Schillig of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The tow truck was helping a stranded tractor-trailer stuck in the median, Schillig said, when the pulley snapped the tension forced it to fly free from both vehicles into traffic.
The pulley crashed through Knapp’s windshield, hitting her in the face and upper chest, Schillig said.
Knapp’s car went off the right side of the freeway and hit a guardrail before it went back on the road and stopped in the median, according to a report from The Associated Press.
Born in Columbus July 21, 1982, to James R. and LaRonda Lowe Knapp, Knapp was a 2000 graduate of Harding High School and was a senior majoring in animal science, according to Ken Allen, owner of the Hughes-Allen Funeral Home.
The young horse enthusiast was employed by the Gap as an inventory control clerk.
A visitation service was held yesterday evening at the funeral home. Allen said the funeral services were private.
Family members were not available for comment yesterday evening.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Last Chance Corral, 5350 Pomeroy Road, Athens, OH 45704.
Condolences may be sent to Knapp’s family at www.hughesallen.com.
