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Commercial truck driver charged with felony for fiery crash that injured ODOT worker

Was under influence of illegal drugs, authorities say
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AKRON, Ohio — The Summit County Sheriff's Office has announced charges against a 51-year-old man for injuring an Ohio Department of Transportation worker in a crash earlier this year.

The driver, identified as Gregory Pree, has been charged with aggravated vehicular assault, a second-degree felony and operating a vehicle under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

The crash happened May 12 just before 7 a.m. on Interstate 77 in Summit County near the City of Green, the release states.

Pree was heading north in a commercial dump truck when he left his lane and struck another vehicle parked on the berm occupied by a 64-year-old ODOT employee, authorities said. Both the driver and the ODOT employee were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

An investigation determined that Pree was operating the truck under the influence of illegal drugs, the release states.

That crash marked the 82nd time an ODOT crew member was struck by a vehicle this year.

Warrants were issued and Pree has been arrested, authorities said.

RELATED: ODOT issues plea after 82nd crew hit in 2022: 'This has to stop'

You can watch more about the crash when it happened in the player below:

'This has to stop:' ODOT issues plea after 82nd crew hit in 2022

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