NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Aug. 13, 2025) – State troopers say a service technician working on the tire of a disabled semi along US 250 east was seriously injured as he was hit by a passing flatbed truck that drifted off the right side of the road Tuesday.
This happened just past the split from I-77 south at New Philadelphia around 12:20 p.m.
The injured service technician, 24-year-old Travis Brown of Steubenville, was flown by helicopter to an Akron hospital.
New Philadelphia Post Sgt. Clinton Armstrong says the driver of the flatbed truck, a 33-year-old Freeport man, didn’t stick around but was located a couple hours later with his vehicle at a Commercial Avenue business on the south side of New Philadelphia.
Armstrong says the man told investigators he apparently nodded off behind the wheel and consented to voluntary tests and a download of his cell phone.
A report will be sent to the prosecutor’s office for the consideration of charges.
