Akron Daily Briefing: Sinkhole Repairs, Highway Crash, and $3.5M Lotto Win
Akron, OH — February 17, 2026 — Crews tackle a major sinkhole, an SR 59 crash disrupts traffic, and a persistent local player finally hits a $3.5M jackpot.
Akron, OH — February 17, 2026 — Crews are still dealing with damage from a dramatic sinkhole, a weekend crash slowed traffic on SR 59, and one local lottery player’s long-shot persistence has finally paid off.
North Howard sinkhole keeps street closed, repairs continue
A section of North Howard Street remains shut down after a sinkhole opened late Friday, nearly swallowing a car with three people inside. Firefighters rescued the occupants, who were taken to the hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.
City officials traced the collapse to a cast-iron water main more than a century old that broke in two places under the roadway. Utility and street crews have been working through the weekend, but full road restoration is on hold while a separate sewer-line issue is addressed. Drivers in the area are being detoured while the street stays closed.
Injury crash slows traffic along SR 59 near Vernon Odom
Emergency crews responded late Sunday morning to an injury crash along SR 59 near Vernon Odom Boulevard and 3rd Avenue. Dispatch reports show the call came in just before noon, bringing police, fire, and medics to the busy corridor.
Authorities have not released details on how many vehicles were involved or the number of people hurt, but responders temporarily restricted lanes while they treated those at the scene and cleared the roadway. The crash is under review, and drivers can expect periodic slowdowns as investigators work the area.
Akron man’s 22-year streak ends with $3.5 million jackpot
An Akron resident who played the same six Classic Lotto numbers for 22 years has finally hit the jackpot. The winning ticket matched all six numbers in a recent drawing, delivering a $3.5 million prize.
The longtime player opted for the cash payout, worth about $1.7 million before taxes. The ticket was sold at a Brown Street convenience store, which will receive a bonus for selling the winner. The new millionaire says the win means retirement, a new home, and a few long-planned upgrades, including a pool and home gym.
State lottery officials note that Classic Lotto jackpots start at $1 million and grow when there is no winner, making this one of the larger recent prizes tied to a single ticket in Akron.
Looking ahead
Residents near North Howard should watch for updated detour information as water and sewer repairs move forward. Commuters who use SR 59 may also want to leave extra time in case of lingering traffic impacts from the recent crash.
Sources
- https://www.fox19.com/2026/02/15/3-hospitalized-after-akron-sinkhole-nearly-swallows-car/
- https://www.whbc.com/injuries-after-car-falls-into-akron-sinkhole/
- https://localaccidentreports.com/akron-oh-injury-accident-on-sr-59-near-vernon-odom-blvd/
- https://www.shorenewsnetwork.com/ohio-store-sells-3-5-million-winning-ticket/
