MARLBORO TOWNSHIP, Ohio — An ODOT employee has been hospitalized after he was struck by an impaired driver on State Route 619 just east of State Route 44 in Marlboro Township, located in Stark County.
Troopers from the Canton Post of the Ohio State highway Patrol responded at around 11:10 p.m. Tuesday for a crash.
A 54-year-old ODOT employee was parked on State Route 619 facing west after closing the roadway due to a downed utility pole. The employee was sitting in his car with his emergency lights activated when his vehicle was struck by an impaired driver traveling eastbound on State Route 619.
The impaired driver, a 39-year-old North Olmsted resident identified as Craig Wells, drove through the road closure sign and struck the ODOT truck head-on. Wells was impaired by both alcohol and drugs at the time of the crash—making it his fourth OVI in a 10-year period, troopers said.
Troopers said a loaded handgun was found in the vehicle. After Wells was released from the hospital with minor injuries, he was transported to the Stark County Jail and charged with a felony OVI offense, operating a vehicle while suspended, failure to maintain assured clear distance ahead and possession of a firearm.
The ODOT worker was transported to Alliance Hospital with minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.
