Dump truck collision sends semi crashing into excavator, kills 1 worker in Ohio work zone

Updated Jun 30, 2015

A weekend work zone crash that began with the collision of a dump truck and tractor trailer in Ohio ended with the death of a construction worker.

According to a report from the Dayton Daily News, a dump truck working on the Interstate 70 construction site near Englewood attempted to merge into eastbound traffic early Sunday morning and collided with a semi truck.

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The collision caused the semi to lose control and crash into the work zone, hitting an excavator and concrete barrier as well as a 43-year-old worker, identified as Daniel Walker.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. Officers told the paper Walker was on foot when he was struck and killed. Speeding may have been a factor in the crash, officers said. The speed limit in the work zone was 55 miles per hour.

Walker hailed from Kentucky and was employed by the John R. Jurgensen Company. Jurgensen is contracted by the Ohio Department of Transportation for the project. ODOT released the following statement to the Daily News:

“We are deeply saddened by news of a deadly accident in one of our construction zones. Our thoughts and prayers are with Daniel Walker’s family and his co-workers at John R. Jurgensen,” the statement reads. “With a record number of construction projects across the state, we urgently remind motorists to please remember to pay attention and slow down while driving through work zones.”