LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH — A pedestrian sustained severe injuries Monday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle while attempting to cross U.S. 50 in Ross County, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The injury crash occurred at approximately 2:50 p.m. on May 18, 2026, near mile marker 32 in Liberty Township.
Crash Dynamics and Emergency Response
State troopers from the OSHP Chillicothe Post report that a 2013 Dodge Caravan, driven by William Keiter, 76, of Jamestown, Ohio, was traveling westbound on U.S. 50. At the same time, a pedestrian, identified as James M. Harris, 46, of Hamden, Ohio, attempted to cross the highway from the south side of the road and was struck by the oncoming minivan.
Keiter did not sustain any injuries in the collision.
Harris, however, suffered severe injuries from the impact. He was initially treated at the scene and transported by Liberty Township EMS to Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe. Due to the critical nature of his condition, he was subsequently flown via medical helicopter to the Ohio State University (OSU) Trauma Center in Columbus for advanced emergency care.
Brief Traffic Delays
The incident drew a rapid response from local emergency personnel. Members of the Liberty Township Fire and EMS department assisted state troopers at the scene.
To allow first responders to safely render aid to the injured pedestrian and clear initial debris, traffic on U.S. 50 was reduced to a single lane for approximately 30 minutes. The highway has since been fully reopened to standard traffic flow.
The exact circumstances surrounding the collision remain unclear, and the crash remains under active investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
