It was just before 6 p.m. on a Friday when 39-year-old Alex Lowry of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, lost his life in a violent collision on Interstate 680 (Ohio) southbound near milepost 12, under the oversight of the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) and local media.
According to the OSHP, Lowry was driving a 2014 Dodge Charger in the left-lane when, for reasons yet under investigation, he struck the rear of a Nissan Rogue that was also traveling southbound. The sudden impact sent Lowry’s vehicle off the left side of the highway, where it first clipped a guardrail, then slammed into three concrete supports beneath a bridge, and ultimately flipped over.
In the aftermath of the crash Lowry was ejected from his vehicle and was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigators confirmed he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Meanwhile, the driver of the Nissan Rogue also left the roadway, crashed into a guardrail, and flipped over—but sustained only minor injuries, and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The OSHP has said that speed is under investigation as a possible contributing factor in this tragic incident. The crash caused serious disruption and serves as a grim reminder of how quickly a routine drive can turn deadly.
Friends, family and the broader community in both Boardman and McKeesport are reeling now, mourning the abrupt loss of Lowry and grappling with the knowledge that one decision—like buckling up—can be life or death. In the wake of the crash, local safety advocates have renewed calls for seat‐belt usage and careful driving, especially in high-speed situations on interstate highways.
As the OSHP’s Canfield Post continues its investigation, the full sequence of events remains under review. For now, the facts stand: a rear-end collision, ejection from the car, no seatbelt, and a life ended far too soon.
By nightfall, officials closed portions of the southbound lanes of I-680 at the Route 224 overpass area to clear the wreckage and conduct their investigation. Traffic delays stretched through the evening rush.
This crash underscores a stark truth: every time we drive, we’re making hundreds of tiny decisions—how fast we go, how closely we follow, whether we buckle up—that together determine whether we arrive home safe. For Alex Lowry, the chance to make any more did not arrive.