A Northeast Side woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash that shut down Interstate 71 on the North Side for several hours Thursday and caused a power outage.

Columbus police said the crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. on I-71 northbound, south of Morse Road. A vehicle driven by 23-year-old Aeronna Harris went off the east side of the road and entered the grass before striking two side by side utility poles about 78 feet from the edge of the pavement, knocking down power wires, police said.

An AEP worker investigating the resulting power outage discovered the wreck around 3:50 a.m. and called police.

Harris was pronounced dead at the scene by Columbus Fire paramedics.

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The crash closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 71 between Interstate 670 and Morse Road on the North Side for Thursday's morning commute.

About 1,400 AEP customers were originally without power as a result of the crash. About half were restored by 5:45 a.m. To allow AEP utility crews to complete repairs to the downed lines and restore all service, the interstate was closed in both directions for several hours after the morning rush hour.

I-71 was reopened first southbound and then in both directions by 1:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.

The remaining AEP customers were restored by 1:45 p.m., AEP said.

The crash remains under investigation.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner