A construction worker was killed early Saturday when a car tore into an overnight work zone on Interstate 70 just outside downtown Columbus, then sped off, police said.
The crash happened in the westbound lanes of I-70 near the State Route 315 interchange at around 2 a.m., according to Columbus police. Crews were working in the area when a vehicle entered the work zone and struck one of the workers.
Police told WBNS that the vehicle, described as a maroon Toyota sedan, was traveling west on I-70 when it suddenly swerved into the work area and hit both a worker and a generator. The worker was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:12 a.m.
Investigators said the driver did not stop and left the scene. Police shut down the westbound side of the highway near the crash site and said the closure was expected to last into at least Monday while the Accident Investigation Unit processed the scene.
Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen the collision, or who has dash-cam footage from that stretch of I-70 around 2 a.m., to contact the Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477.
Work Zone Risks And State Response
Deadly incidents like this are a grim reminder that road construction zones remain some of the most dangerous places to work. Federal data shows that in 2023, roughly 800 to 900 people were killed in work-zone crashes nationwide, according to the Federal Highway Administration.
In response to ongoing risks, the Ohio Department of Transportation has been trying out new technology aimed at protecting workers along busy highways. That includes autonomous crash-attenuator trucks deployed near Columbus that are designed to act as moving shields between traffic and road crews, as reported by Roads & Bridges.
Legal Implications
Under Ohio law, drivers involved in a crash on a public road are required to stop. Failing to stop when a collision results in death is typically charged as a third-degree felony. If prosecutors can show the driver knew the crash caused a death and still took off, the charge can be elevated to a second-degree felony, according to Ohio Revised Code section 4549.02.
Court penalties in such cases are not limited to prison time. Judges must impose a license suspension and can also order restitution to cover losses tied to the crash.
Columbus police said the investigation remains active and that more information will be released as it becomes available. For now, they are counting on tips and video from passing drivers to help track down the person behind the wheel of the maroon sedan.
