A late-night stop on Interstate 90 westbound turned deadly Friday in Cleveland when a 55-year-old man was fatally struck while standing outside his vehicle near the West 44th Street overpass. Emergency crews responded to the scene and pronounced the man dead alongside the roadway. Police took a woman into custody at the scene, and investigators say the case remains under active investigation.
According to News 5 Cleveland, the Cleveland Police Second District received a call at 11:22 p.m. reporting an unresponsive man on I-90 by West 44th Street. Officers arrived to find the victim outside a vehicle near the highway, where Cleveland EMS pronounced him dead. The outlet reports the man had come to a stop on the interstate for an unknown reason before being struck.
What police say
News 5 Cleveland reports, citing the Cleveland Division of Police. The driver accused of hitting the man is described as a 46-year-old woman. She was arrested at the scene, and charges are pending, the station reports. The Cleveland Police Accident Investigation Unit is leading the case.
Investigation and legal next steps
Per the Cleveland Division of Police’s general order, the Accident Investigation Unit is responsible for serious vehicular assault and hit-and-run cases. That includes securing and documenting the scene, interviewing witnesses, and arranging chemical testing when needed. The procedures laid out in that order guide how investigators gather evidence that prosecutors may later use to decide on potential criminal charges under state law.
Pedestrian safety context
The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that drivers struck and killed 7,148 pedestrians in 2024. While that is a slight drop from 2023, it remains nearly 20 percent higher than in 2016. The GHSA analysis notes that many of these deaths occur at night and often involve hit-and-run situations, underscoring how dangerous it can be for anyone on foot near fast-moving traffic.
How to report tips
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Cleveland Police Accident Investigation Unit. Cleveland19 lists the unit’s tip line as 216-623-3310. Investigators are urging witnesses and anyone who may have dashcam or other video from the area of West 44th Street and I-90 around the time of the incident to come forward.
