MEDINA COUNTY, Ohio — The problem of Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) plow trucks being struck by other vehicles continues to grow worse.
3News' Isabel Lawrence confirmed with ODOT that three plows were hit across the state on Friday alone, making it 12 times already this year that the agency's trucks have been struck. To put that number into context, 26 plows were hit during all of 2023.
On Friday morning, an ODOT plow was struck by a vehicle while working to clear snow along I-71 North near the I-76 interchange in Medina County.
ODOT tells 3News their plow driver was traveling northbound in the slow lane when a box truck passed on the left. The truck’s rear end then struck the plow blade, according to ODOT officials.
There were no injuries to either driver.
“Our plow truck sustained minor damage and will be back out on its route today,” Kaitlyn Thompson, ODOT District 3 Public Information Officer, tells 3News in an e-mail.
Matt Bruning of ODOT tweeted about the incident shortly before 7 a.m. Friday.
“Folks, I can't stress this enough: Pay attention and give our crews room to work,” he wrote in his post. “There is NO reason for anyone to be hitting snowplows.”
Bruning had more to say on the plows being struck later in the afternoon.
Earlier this week, ODOT released video that shows one of their plows as it was struck by a vehicle Tuesday afternoon on I-480 East at Tiedeman Road. You can see footage from the crash in the video below:
The first ODOT plow to be struck this year happened around 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 7, on I-90 near West 117th Street. You can watch video of that incident in the player below:
Drivers are being reminded to stay two to three car lengths behind snow plows. Remember, the plows will be driving much slower than the posted speed limit to allow that salt to stick. Also, plow drivers have more limited visibility due to the snow from the plow, plus they have no rear-view mirror.
"One of the things that we hear a lot from our drivers is that they’re seeing inattention behind the wheel," said ODOT Northeast Regional Public Information Officer Amanda McFarland. "Whether that’s someone changing the radio, reaching for something, using their cell phone, which is illegal now – they're just seeing so much inattention that people aren’t paying attention. And if you're not paying attention, that’s how you miss these giant machines”