Fatal early-morning hit-skip near shuttered Westerville Road nightclub remains unsolved as multi-agency probe continues
Case remains open more than three months after pedestrian death
A fatal hit-skip crash that killed a 20-year-old woman outside a now-closed after-hours nightclub in northeast Franklin County remains under active investigation, with authorities still seeking information about the driver and vehicle involved.
The crash occurred at approximately 4:58 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, on Westerville Road south of Innis Road in Clinton Township. Investigators say a dark four-door sedan traveling southbound struck two adult women who were in the roadway. Both were transported to Riverside Hospital in critical condition; one victim was pronounced dead at 5:48 a.m. The second woman suffered serious injuries.
Public tips sought as investigators narrow the vehicle description
Investigators have asked anyone with information—particularly surveillance video from nearby businesses, residences, or vehicles that may have been in the area around the time of the crash—to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office crash investigators. The focus remains on identifying the vehicle and the person driving at the time of impact, and determining the circumstances that led to the women being struck.
Authorities have described the suspect vehicle as a dark, four-door sedan and have continued outreach for leads. The case has not been publicly cleared, and no arrest has been announced in connection with the hit-skip.
Crash linked to broader enforcement action at an after-hours venue
The fatal crash became a pivotal event in a wider enforcement effort targeting an after-hours nightclub operating on Westerville Road under the name Kaze Lounge. In the months leading up to the closure, multiple law enforcement agencies investigated the venue amid repeated complaints and a high volume of calls for service tied to incidents such as assaults, robberies, and reports of shots fired.
Officials say the business was operating without a liquor permit. In the days after the Oct. 19 crash, warning letters were sent to the property owner and an identified lounge operator. The Ohio Investigative Unit later executed a search warrant at the site and seized alcohol and items consistent with a nightlife operation, including bracelets and drink tickets.
Property ordered shut pending court action
On Nov. 19, 2025, the property owner agreed to a preliminary order shutting down the establishment and barring identified operators from returning to the site. A hearing on a permanent injunction was scheduled for Jan. 15, 2026, as county officials pursued a public-nuisance case aimed at preventing a restart of similar illegal activity at the location.
Date and time: Oct. 19, 2025, about 4:58 a.m.
Location: Westerville Road south of Innis Road, Clinton Township
Outcome: One woman, 20, died; a second woman was seriously injured
Status: Hit-skip investigation remains open; venue has been shuttered under a preliminary court order
Anyone with information relevant to the crash—especially video from the corridor during the pre-dawn hours—can assist investigators in identifying the driver and vehicle.