COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One person has been hospitalized and a major Columbus highway remains closed after a crash and fire early Wednesday morning. According to Columbus police a vehicle crashed into a support beam of an underpass at the highway interchange of I-71 South and the exit ramps at I-270 on the north side of the city. It remains unknown what led up to the crash, but Columbus Fire Chief Jeffrey Geitter said it was a single vehicle accident. The vehicle, which appeared totaled after the crash, reportedly veered off the road and slammed into a support beam, causing the vehicle to catch fire and the support beam to be covered in soot from the smoke. I-71 South crash and fire closes highway, multiple exit ramps in north Columbus. (Courtesy/Ohio Department of Transportation) Chief Geitter said the fire was extinguished at around 6:25 a.m. and the driver was rescued from the vehicle and taken to an area hospital in critical condition. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, all lanes on I-71 South are closed at the highway interchange and several exit ramps are closed including the following: Ramp from I-270 West to I-71 South Ramp from I-270 East to I-71 North Ramp from I-270 East to I-71 South Inbound traffic during the morning rush hour is backed up to the Polaris exit. Use your NBC4 app or visit https://www.nbc4i.com/traffic/ for updates.