Use of drugs suspected in deadly Madison County wreck, says OSHP
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP, OH, (August 21, 2024) - A Wednesday afternoon crash in Madison County involving a box truck claimed the life of a 33-year-old Columbus woman, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
Jessica Ross Sheehan, a 33-year-old resident of Columbus, lost her life after being hit in her car by a box truck along Interstate 70 in Jefferson Township, the State Patrol said.
The incident happened on Interstate 70 in Jefferson Township at about 3:20 p.m. A preliminary investigation found that the box truck was traveling westbound on I-70 when the driver veered off the left side of the road and into the median. The truck then moved into the eastbound lanes of I-70, striking a 2022 Mercedes GLC driven by Jessica Ross Sheehan.
Tragically, Sheehan, 33, of Columbus, died at the scene as a result of injuries.
Authorities said the driver and passenger of the box truck were unharmed.
Drugs may have played a role in the crash, OSHP said.
CRASH INVESTIGATION NEEDED
According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 150,000 people were injured as a result of large trucking accidents and an additional 4,951 people lost their lives.
Candice Bond, an experienced commercial accident attorney, said that in such cases, it is imperative to have an independent investigation conducted promptly to protect the rights of a victim.
“Commercial accidents are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, who is a Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
“A skilled attorney can protect victims from trucking companies, which often send their own investigators to crash sites and possess a variety of resources they can utilize to defend a negligent truck driver.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
The family of Jessica Ross Sheehan may pursue compensation for damages such as costs associated with the death, loss of income and companionship, and other hardships.
“A death to a family member after an accident is both tragic and devastating to a surviving family. The grief, shock, and anger can be overwhelming,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal.
He added, “Aside from the emotional suffering of those left behind, the death of someone close can have devastating financial implications. Loss of income and funeral costs alone can have tragic consequences when a family member is lost.”
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(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).