A 38-year-old Columbus man died late Thursday after he was struck by an SUV while standing in the northbound lanes of Interstate 71 in Morrow County. Brandon Miller was pronounced dead at the scene near milepost 147, and investigators have not said why he was on foot in the middle of a high-speed freeway when the crash occurred.
According to a statement from the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported by Richland Source, Morrow County EMS pronounced Miller dead at the scene. The crash happened around 10:23 p.m. Thursday in Harmony Township, according to the Mount Gilead post, which is investigating, as reported by WSYX. Investigators say Miller was standing in the northbound travel lanes when he was hit by a 2025 Chevrolet Traverse driven by 42-year-old Brandon Diguilio of North Ridgeville. Diguilio remained at the scene and was not injured, per the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Multiple Agencies Responded to the Scene
Richland Source's report on the highway patrol statement noted that five additional agencies assisted at the crash site: the Morrow County Sheriff's Office, Big Walnut Joint Fire District, Morrow County Fire Department, Morrow County Prosecutor's Office, and the Morrow County Coroner. The prosecutor's office and coroner were among the agencies that assisted at the scene.
Why Miller was standing directly in the travel lanes remains an open question for investigators at the Mount Gilead post. Law enforcement has not disclosed whether a disabled vehicle, a prior crash, or impairment played a role, according to the same report.
Ohio Law Bars Pedestrians From Freeways With Few Exceptions
Under Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.051(A)(1), pedestrians are legally prohibited from occupying any space within the right-of-way of a freeway unless they are in a rest area, using a designated pedestrian facility, performing official duties, or responding to a vehicle breakdown or emergency to seek assistance, according to the Ohio Revised Code. A separate statute, Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.481(A), also bars a pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or drugs to a degree that renders them a hazard from walking or being present on any highway.
This is not the first time a pedestrian has died along this same stretch of interstate. In December 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that 44-year-old Hua Zheng was killed along the shoulder of northbound I-71 between exits 140 and 151 in Harmony Township after exiting his vehicle following an initial crash, as documented by Richland Source.
Part of a Broader Pattern of Pedestrian Crashes Statewide
Thursday's fatal crash also fits into a wider pattern of pedestrian risk on Ohio roadways. State troopers recorded over 400 pedestrian-involved crashes across Ohio during just the first three months of 2026, resulting in dozens of serious injuries and fatalities, according to Graham Law. In response, Ohio House Bill 714 was introduced this year to increase criminal penalties for drivers who cause death or serious physical harm to pedestrians on state roadways, per the same source.
Morrow County's stretch of I-71 has drawn scrutiny before. In September, Hoodline reported on a Fredericktown teen killed nearby in a separate fatal crash also investigated by the Mount Gilead post.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Mount Gilead post continues to investigate Thursday's crash. No further details on charges or contributing factors have been released.
