Driver who stopped on I-71 before exit charged in three-car wreck

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Back in May, the Ohio Department of Transportation shared video from an Interstate 71 crash to warn drivers what not to do on the highway. Two months later, the driver that stopped in the middle of the road has been charged.

Columbus police confirmed to NBC4 that the driver of a red vehicle that stopped in the middle of the highway, which led to a three-car wreck behind the vehicle, has been charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle with willful and wanton disregard for safety.

The crash occurred on April 30 before 5:30 p.m. on I-71 south approaching the Interstate 670 exit. A red vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle lane after missing the intended exit, leading a black vehicle and a white vehicle to stop behind the red vehicle in the same lane.

A large silver vehicle driving in the same lane rear-ended the white vehicle, which then crashed into the black vehicle. The red vehicle is then seen immediately after the chain reaction crash driving away into the exit lane towards I-670.

WATCH: Three-car wreck on I-71 behind stopped car

“Actions like the one in the video are extremely dangerous to yourself and other drivers,” wrote ODOT in a social media post.