Drivers traveling along Ohio's interstates and highways often encounter maintenance vehicles and tow trucks. When in operation, the drivers of these vehicles often make frequent stops to attend to stranded motorists or other potentially hazardous debris. One such dump truck vehicle was recently involved in a serious collision with another vehicle along a portion of Ohio's Interstate 75.

The commercial vehicle accident occurred as two ODOT workers pulled their dump truck over to the side of I-75. The workers had exited the vehicle and were attempting to retrieve a large tarp from the ditch when a 51-year-old man who was driving a SUV crashed into the back of the dump truck.

One of the ODOT workers, a 51-year-old woman, was struck by the SUV's side mirror. She was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, but her injuries were not believed to be severe. The other ODOT worker was not injured in the crash. The 51-year-old man who was driving the SUV sustained numerous serious injuries. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital and was most recently listed in critical condition.

While it appears that the ODOT dump truck was parked on the shoulder of the interstate it is not clear whether the truck's hazard lights were on. In this case, it's likely that the driver of the SUV became distracted and accidently veered out of his lane of traffic and onto the shoulder of the interstate.

Thankfully, in this accident neither of the ODOT workers sustained serious injuries. In many similar accidents involving pedestrians and commercial vehicles, those involved typically sustain serious or even fatal injuries. It is not yet known whether criminal charges will be brought against the driver of the SUV.

Source: Toledo Blade, "Man in critical condition after SUV, truck collision on I-75," March 4, 2013