Woman killed in crash

A Northeast Side woman died after she lost control of her car, crossed into oncoming traffic and was struck by a tractor-trailer Wednesday morning in Clinton Township.

Nasteha A. Dahir, 23, of the 2200 block of Teakwood Drive, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 11:40 a.m. crash on Cleveland Avenue, south of Melrose Avenue.

Dahir was driving north on Cleveland Avenue when she veered into the southbound lane and her 2001 Subaru was crushed on the passenger side by a southbound tractor-trailer driven by Branden Hillard, 41, of Springfield, the Franklin County sheriff’s office said. Clinton Township medics pronounced Dahir dead at 11:46 a.m., shortly after arriving at the scene. She was trapped inside the vehicle.

Dahir was not wearing a seatbelt when the crash occurred.

Court records also indicate she was an inexperienced driver with a temporary driving permit and had been cited just last month.

On Jan. 31 shortly after 6 p.m., Dahir was stopped on Morse Road near Sunbury Road by a Columbus police officer, who cited her for failing to control her vehicle and violating her temporary driving permit.

Under Ohio law, a person with a temporary driving permit has to be accompanied by a licensed driver. Dahir was driving alone Wednesday morning.

After failing to appear in Franklin County Municipal Court on Feb. 8 on the prior citations, a warrant was issued for her arrest. Dahir’s driving record and experience will be a part of the investigation of the crash, which is still ongoing, said Marc Gofstein, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office.