Early Saturday in northeast Columbus, a pedestrian was struck and killed along State Route 3, according to authorities. Emergency crews found the person lying in the roadway just south of Allwine Road, and medics pronounced the victim dead at 5:45 a.m. The driver later came back to the scene and was not injured.
Deputies told NBC4 the crash happened just before 5:40 a.m., when the pedestrian was walking in the middle of the road. A taupe Toyota Camry heading south on State Route 3 hit the person. The motorist initially continued on, believing they had struck a deer, then returned a short time later.
Deputies with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and crews from Mifflin Township Fire and EMS responded. The sheriff’s office has opened a crash investigation and is asking anyone with information to contact its Crash Investigation Unit at 614-525-6113.
Legal consequences for leaving the scene
Under Ohio law, failing to stop after an accident that results in death can be charged as a felony. The Revised Code generally treats such offenses as third-degree felonies and allows for harsher penalties if the driver knew the crash caused a death. Courts can also tack on license suspensions and other sanctions in addition to prison time or other criminal penalties, according to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4549.
Pedestrian safety in Ohio
State traffic-safety data show pedestrian fatalities in Ohio fell in 2024, part of a recent multi-year decline in overall traffic deaths statewide. Advocates, however, say hit-and-run and nighttime crashes are still stubborn problems. The Ohio Traffic Safety Office reported roughly 128 pedestrian deaths in 2024 and continues to push enforcement and infrastructure changes aimed at making it safer for people on foot…