Eric Lagatta
The Columbus Dispatch
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man is in critical condition after he attempted to leave the scene of a crash on Interstate 71 and was hit by an emergency vehicle responding to the accident.
The traffic crash was first reported at 5:52 p.m. Tuesday in the far left lane of I-71 south between Morse Road and Dublin Granville Road, said Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin. At 6 p.m., dispatchers were informed that someone involved in the crash had jumped over the median into the northbound lanes and was hit by an ambulance on its way to the crash scene, he said.
The northbound emergency vehicle was heading to the Dublin Granville Road exit in order to turn around and access I-71 southbound. The man had a “glancing blow” with the side of the ambulance, then went underneath the wheels and sustained internal injuries, Martin said.
The man was conscious as he was transported to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Martin said.
Martin did not have any other details on the initial traffic crash other than to say medics cleared that scene in 18 minutes.
Though I-71 north is open, the left southbound lane remained closed between Dublin Granville Road and Morse Road for more than an hour while waiting for tow trucks to remove the vehicles involved and clear some debris the scene, according to Columbus police dispatch.
Martin said Columbus police will conduct an accident investigation regarding the pedestrian who was hit.
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