Columbus, Ohio is grieving the loss of 32-year-old Kaitlyn Spahr, a senior attorney with the Columbus City Attorney’s Office, after a violent wrong-way crash on State Route 315 late Monday night. The crash happened near the King Avenue exit around 10:15 p.m. and involved two Mercedes-Benz vehicles in a head-on collision that shut down the highway for hours.
Spahr was a passenger in a black 2018 Mercedes-Benz when a white Mercedes-Benz entered the northbound lanes traveling the wrong direction. The impact was immediate and severe. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the damage had already been done.
She was taken for urgent medical care, but officials confirmed she died shortly after. She was pronounced dead at 10:51 p.m. The loss has sent shockwaves through the city legal community and beyond.
Two drivers involved in the crash survived but remain in critical condition at the hospital. Authorities have not released further updates on their recovery.
According to Columbus Police, the crash did not begin as a simple traffic mistake. Investigators say it followed a disturbing chain of events that started earlier in the Clintonville area involving a reported vehicle theft.
Police allege that 30-year-old Xiaoke Fan entered a woman’s vehicle under the claim that she needed help. The situation reportedly escalated when the driver took her toward Riverside Hospital.
Once there, investigators say Fan threatened the woman with a large rock. The woman managed to escape and contacted authorities, but Fan allegedly fled in the stolen vehicle.
Shortly after, police say Fan drove the wrong way on SR-315 North, which led directly into the fatal collision that killed Spahr and injured others. Fan has been charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated robbery, and vehicular assault, and remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein described Spahr as a committed public servant who dedicated her work to the people of Columbus. She joined the City Attorney’s Office in February 2022 and quickly became known for her professionalism and steady presence.
The investigation is still ongoing, and officials say more details may be released as the case develops. For now, the city is left with a sudden and painful loss that has deeply affected colleagues, friends, and the wider community.
