Man Killed by Ohio State Patrol Cruiser on I-71 in Medina

Daniel L. Westrich, a 27-year-old man from Canton, Ohio, was fatally struck by a marked Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser early Sunday morning on Interstate 71 northbound in Medina County. Troopers had responded around 4:45 a.m. to reports of a pedestrian walking in the roadway between State Route 83 and the Interstate 76 interchange in Westfield Township. Approximately 15 minutes later, Westrich was hit by the cruiser near milepost 206 and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported, and the incident remains under investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Authorities have advised motorists to avoid the northbound lanes of I-71 in the affected area while the investigation continues. Multiple local agencies assisted at the scene, including fire and EMS departments and the Medina County Sheriff's Office.