Crash Shuts Down I-77 North Near Akron-Canton Airport for 90 Minutes

A crash on Interstate 77 north of Akron-Canton Airport shut down all northbound lanes on Wednesday afternoon, snarling traffic for miles in Summit County and creating significant delays for travelers headed toward Akron and Cleveland.

What happened and where the closure occurred

Published coverage indicates the closure took place on I-77 northbound in Summit County near Graybill Road, beyond the Akron-Canton Airport area, with traffic stopped as crews responded on scene.

Reports describe a sequence in which a vehicle traveling southbound lost control, rolled into the northbound lanes, and collided with another vehicle. Coverage also indicates three vehicles were involved overall, and multiple people were taken to a local hospital for treatment.

While the crash occurred in the corridor used by many travelers to reach the Akron-Canton region, the immediate disruption was concentrated on the northbound side of I-77, where all lanes were closed for a period of time as responders worked in the roadway.

Timing and delays drivers faced Wednesday afternoon

Traffic updates published during the incident showed a full northbound closure as of early afternoon, with one widely reported timestamp placing the shutdown at about 1:32 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

Real-time traffic information cited in published reporting described lengthy backups and slow travel through the area. One update pegged the northbound delay at roughly 57 minutes in the affected stretch, with travel time approaching an hour within the backup zone.

Separate coverage later described the northbound lanes remaining closed for about 90 minutes, with delays exceeding an hour at points during the response and cleanup period.

Impacts for airport access and regional travel routes

The closure occurred near a key access point for Akron-Canton Airport, an important commercial airport for Northeast Ohio travelers who often use I-77 to connect from Canton, North Canton, Green, and Akron. Even when airport facilities are operating normally, a major interstate closure nearby can complicate drop-offs, pick-ups, rental car returns, and employee commutes.

For drivers headed north toward Akron or Cleveland, the stoppage also affected broader regional mobility because I-77 links with several high-volume routes in the area, including connections toward U.S. 224 and other arterials serving Summit and Stark counties.

Published traffic reporting also noted related impacts on the southbound side, with a shoulder blockage reported on I-77 south in the vicinity of the incident area. Even limited restrictions on the opposite side can slow traffic as drivers brake to observe activity or merge away from blocked shoulders.

Travel guidance: what motorists can do during similar closures

During major incidents, Ohio’s official traffic resources can help travelers avoid getting trapped in a standstill. Ohio’s OHGO system provides real-time traffic flow and incident information and is commonly used by drivers to check closures, speeds, and travel times before starting a trip.

For travelers already on I-77 when a full closure occurs, the best available option typically becomes exiting the freeway before the backup fully forms and using parallel surface routes until traffic is moving again. In the Akron-Canton corridor, that can mean using local arterials around Green, North Canton, and Akron depending on where the closure begins and which ramps remain accessible.

Drivers headed to flights should also consider building extra buffer time when severe backups are reported near airport approaches. Even a closure that lasts around an hour can create rolling congestion that lingers afterward as vehicles re-enter the highway and traffic patterns normalize.

What’s known about injuries and the ongoing investigation

Coverage indicates the crash involved injuries significant enough to require hospital transport for multiple occupants of the vehicle that rolled into the northbound lanes. Subsequent reporting described three people injured, including two serious injuries, though detailed medical conditions were not publicly specified in the available updates.

Published accounts also indicate the cause of the crash remained under review as investigators worked at the scene Wednesday. Motorists traveling through the corridor in the hours after the reopening were urged by traffic reporting to remain cautious for residual congestion and any remaining cleanup activity.