It took one determined officer, a sea of red minivans, and a lot of patience, but Columbus, Ohio, police have charged the minivan driver responsible for a viral highway crash that made national headlines earlier this year.

On April 30, a red minivan came to a complete stop in the middle of Interstate 71 at 5th Avenue after missing its exit

Surveillance footage released by the Ohio Department of Transportation showed the van idling in live traffic with its turn signal blinking. Seconds later, a gray van and a white van stopped behind it, only to be hit by another vehicle in a chain-reaction crash. After the impact, the red van casually took the exit and drove away.

The video was posted to X by ODOT press secretary Matt Bruning. It went viral, racking up more than 43 million views and sparking widespread outrage. MotorBiscuit also covered the incident.

Though no life-threatening injuries were reported, the hunt for the red van’s driver was far from simple.

The vehicle’s plate was unreadable, and the footage didn’t offer many clues. Officer Shannon Schmid with the Columbus Freeway Patrol was assigned to the case.

“I was able to narrow it down to about 250 red minivans just registered in Franklin County,” Schmid said.

From there, it was a matter of painstaking detail work. The key: a small sticker in the back window

That detail helped police identify the exact vehicle. The driver has now been charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and willful disregard for safety, WBNS shared.

Schmid said while it’s not always easy, tracking down these drivers is crucial. Similar incidents involving cars stopping or reversing on Ohio freeways have become more common, often linked to distracted driving.

Officials with ODOT and Columbus police continue to urge drivers to stay alert and keep a safe distance.