COLUMBUS (WCMH) —  I-71 southbound has reopened after a fatal crash near 17th Avenue, according to Columbus Police.

Police were called to the area around 7:37am Sunday morning on I-71 near 17th Avenue. It was later determined that the crash happened at 11:09pm Saturday night.

Police say Allen Dowe III, 31, of Columbus, was driving a 2005 Dodge Magnum south on I-71 at a high rate of speed. He reportedly lost control of his vehicle and spun off the right side of the roadway. Dowe’s vehicle continued down an embankment and hit a tree.

Dowe III and his passenger. 23-year-old Dai’Juan Lee O’Shea Coates of Columbus, died in the crash.Keep checking NBC4i.com for real-time updates on this story. To get alerts for breaking news, grab the free NBC4 News App for iPhone or Android. You can also sign up for email alerts.