AREA NEWS: Troopers investigating pedestrian crash in Ashland County
MONTGOMERY TWP. Troopers are investigating a serious injury crash involving a pedestrian on Interstate 71 northbound, near the U.S. 250 overpass (mile post 186.7), in Ashland County at about 3 a.m. Thursday.
A pedestrian entered the right lane of northbound Interstate 71 and was struck by a 2021 Freightliner semi-truck and trailer.
The crash remains under investigation, however, the driver of the semi-truck is not considered at fault, according to a news release.
The pedestrian, Gene A. Geaslen, 77, of Ashland, was transported by Ashland City EMS to Samaritan Hospital where he was later transferred to Akron City Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was then transferred to the Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center. The driver of the semi-truck, Michael Russell Lake Jr., 33, of Elyria, was not injured and remained on scene.
The right two lanes of IR-71 were closed for approximately one hour.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the crash scene by the Ashland County Sheriff’s Department, the Ashland City Police Department and Ashland City EMS.
