Two individuals, including a Green Township police officer, were hospitalized after a collision on Interstate 74. FOX19 reports that the incident occurred on Wednesday evening, just past the North Bend Road exit, when a vehicle unexpectedly struck the police cruiser during a roadside assistance operation. The affected portion of I-74 westbound was closed for an investigation by the Hamilton County Sheriff's office, with no timeframe for reopening provided.
WLWT shared further details, noting the collision took place around 7:45 p.m., near Rybolt Road and Harrison Avenue. The officer was reportedly waiting for a tow truck to arrive for another driver when their cruiser was hit. The second person involved was treated for injuries at the scene, while the officer was taken to the hospital.
In an update to the situation, The Enquirer identified the officer as 24-year-old Braden Ruhe. Ruhe, who was attending to a prior crash on the westbound lanes between the exits for North Bend Road and Rybolt Road/Harrison Avenue, was released from the hospital after being treated for minor injuries. Ronald Jackson, 78, the driver of the car that collided with the cruiser, also suffered minor injuries, which were addressed at the crash site.
The circumstances leading to the collision are still under investigation, and authorities have yet to determine if charges will be filed. Assisting in the ongoing inquiry, the Green Township Police Traffic Unit is appealing to the public for any information. Witnesses or those with knowledge pertinent to the incident are encouraged to contact the unit at 513-574-0007. Green Township's commitment to public safety was demonstrable through their prompt response and openness about what transpired on that tumultuous stretch of I-74.
