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Deputy injured in crash on I-70 near Hilliard

Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert told 10TV that the deputy’s cruiser was struck in a construction zone on the highway. The deputy's condition was described as stable.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is back home recovering after he was injured when his vehicle was struck in a construction zone on Interstate 70 near Hilliard on Thursday.

The crash happened at 4:27 a.m. on I-70 west past Interstate 270 and just before Hilliard Rome Road.

Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert told 10TV that the driver of the other vehicle went around the arrow board in the construction zone as crews were trying to fix a guard rail.

In a statement, the Ohio Department of Transportation said a contractor, not any of their crews, were working in the area.

The vehicle then crashed into the back of the deputy's vehicle. The cruiser was deemed totaled, according to Gilbert.

The deputy was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital before being released and the driver of the other vehicle was taken to Grant Medical Center.

The crash is still under investigation, but the sheriff's office does not think drugs or alcohol played a role.

Credit: Franklin County Sheriff's Office

This incident marks the third law enforcement officer to be injured on the roads in the last two months.

In February, Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper Adrian Wilson was struck by an alleged impaired driver on Interstate 71 near state Route 665.

About a week later, Columbus Police officer Hansel Jenry was struck in his cruiser on Interstate 670 near downtown Columbus.

ODOT crews have already been struck 26 times this year, which includes workers, vehicles, and equipment, and 133 times last year.

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