Daniel L. Westrich Obituary, Death: Man fatally struck by Ohio State Highway Patrol vehicle on I-71.
Daniel L. Westrich Obituary, Death – A tragic incident occurred early Sunday morning in Medina County, resulting in the death of a Canton man who was struck by an Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) vehicle. The Ohio State Highway Patrol released a statement detailing the events leading up to the fatal collision.
According to OSHP officials, the incident began around 4:45 a.m. when troopers received calls about a man walking in the northbound lanes of Interstate 71. The reports placed him between the State Route 83 exit and the Interstate 76 interchange, located in Westfield Township. This stretch of highway is typically busy, and pedestrians are rarely seen walking along its lanes, especially during early morning hours.
About 15 minutes after the initial report, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the pedestrian was struck by a marked OSHP cruiser. Troopers confirmed that the man died at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision. The deceased was later identified as 27-year-old Daniel L. Westrich of Canton.
No other injuries were reported in the incident, and authorities have not provided information about why Westrich was on the interstate at that hour or whether he was experiencing car trouble, disoriented, or facing any other issues.
The crash remains under active investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Investigators are working to piece together the sequence of events, including factors such as lighting conditions, the visibility of the pedestrian, the speed of the patrol vehicle, and whether the trooper attempted to avoid the collision.
As of now, OSHP has not released the name of the trooper involved in the crash, and it is unclear whether any disciplinary or administrative actions are being taken. Incidents involving law enforcement vehicles are typically subject to internal review procedures as well as standard crash investigations.
Authorities have urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or seen the man walking on the interstate prior to the crash to contact OSHP with information. They are particularly interested in understanding how long Westrich had been walking on the roadway and whether he had come from a nearby vehicle or location.
This incident adds to the growing concern over pedestrian safety along highways, where foot traffic is both illegal and highly dangerous. Interstate highways are not designed for pedestrian access, and accidents involving individuals on foot can often result in fatal outcomes due to high vehicle speeds and low visibility in the early morning or nighttime hours.
Daniel Westrich’s death is a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by walking along or across major highways. The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate this case to determine the full circumstances of the crash and to assess any further steps that may be necessary in the aftermath of this unfortunate event.
