Pedestrian Struck by Two Vehicles, Killed Near Ohio Casino

A pedestrian was killed after being struck by separate vehicles near an Ohio casino on Sunday evening.

The Columbus Division of Police revealed in a press release that the passerby was hit by a Ford pickup truck and a Ford SUV. The report stated the truck had a green light and was entitled to the right of way.

Despite that, a nearby employee said that there was reasonable concern for the safety of pedestrians in the area due to the lack of infrastructure.

A fatal incident

The Columbus Division of Police was dispatched to the 6000 block of South High Street around 9:21 p.m. on Sunday.

They were called to the scene – near the Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs casino in Columbus, per WSBN-10 TV – where it didn’t take long for them to pronounce the victim deceased.

According to police, the victim was crossing South High Street outside of the crosswalk marked in the road. They were struck by the pickup truck, and then, while on the ground, were struck again by an SUV that couldn’t maneuver out of their way.

The Columbus Division of Fire declared the victim dead at 9:28 p.m. It was not revealed if the first or second impact dealt the fatal blow, or if that determination has been reached.

The authorities are still investigating the incident. 

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Columbus authorities. They can remain anonymous by calling the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Eyewitness accounts

ABC6 provided accounts from witnesses and employees who were stationed near the accident.

According to their reporting, witnesses told them the victim was a woman. They also noted that the Columbus Department of Public Safety’s records indicated that more than 100 crashes occurred at or near the intersection where the victim was struck within the past five years, including one fatal one in Feb. 2020.

"A lot of people don't think that a split-minute decision could be your last decision," said Tiffany Doolittle, a witness of the crash and a truck driver, per ABC6. “When it’s dark and there’s not a lot of lighting, cars can't see you. As much as you can see them, it doesn't mean they can see you.

“This is a 50 mph road, but you have traffic traveling at 65 mph. Especially the big trucks, when they’re loaded, they can't stop that quickly.”

Per ABC6, staff at a nearby gas station called the crosswalk dangerous and said there was a lack of nearby sidewalks.

Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs did not release a public statement pertaining to the crash. 

The victim’s name has not been released.