The quiet dark of Interstate 71 South was completely shattered early Sunday morning. A devastating crash took away a young man who had his whole life ahead of him. It happened in a split second, leaving a central Ohio community completely heartbroken.
Tobias Forsythe was only 21 years old. Everyone who knew him just called him Toby. He was a sweet, humble kid from Gahanna who brought pure joy to every room he walked into. He was driving his gray 2025 Honda Accord when everything went terribly wrong.
Toby was the kind of guy people naturally gravitated toward. On the soccer field, he was an absolute force. He graduated from Gahanna Lincoln High School and went on to play as a goalkeeper for Ashland University from 2023 to 2025. Recently, he transferred to Shawnee State University and earned the starting goalkeeper spot.
Around 1:43 a.m., Toby was traveling down the highway near mile marker 82. A massive 2020 Freightliner Cascadia semitruck was heading south on the same road. The large commercial truck struck Toby’s Honda Accord with incredible force.
First responders rushed to the scene as fast as they could. Sadly, the damage was already done. Toby sustained fatal injuries from the impact and was pronounced dead right there on the asphalt.
The driver of the semitruck survived the terrifying ordeal. Medics transported the driver to Grant Medical Center to get checked out. Officials confirmed the truck driver’s injuries were non-life-threatening.
Right now, the Ohio State Highway Patrol is still investigating exactly what caused this nightmare. Meanwhile, Toby’s coaches, teammates, and classmates are left holding onto precious memories of his uplifting spirit and unwavering support.
