General Headquarters — Columbus, Ohio

 

For Immediate Release: September 10, 2003
Contact: Lt. Tony Bradshaw (614) 752-2792

 

Patrol Trooper and Auxiliary Officer Injured in Crash on Ohio Turnpike

BEREA – Ohio State Highway Patrol Tpr. Megan Rockas and Auxiliary Officer Robert Yodice sustained non-life-threatening injuries this morning in a single car crash on the Ohio Turnpike in the city of Strongsville.

Auxiliary Officer Robert Yodice was on duty with Tpr. Rockas, who was en route to assist another officer at a commercial vehicle crash. The eastbound lanes of the Ohio Turnpike were closed at milepost 156 as a result of the commercial vehicle crash.

At 4:05 a.m. this morning, Tpr. Rockas was westbound in the closed eastbound lanes and swerved to avoid a construction barrel in the road. The patrol car slid off the south side of the roadway striking a ditch and overturned into an embankment at milepost 161.

Tpr. Rockas and Officer Yodice were transported to Southwest Community Hospital in Middleburg Heights. Officer Yodice was treated and will be released. Trooper Rockas was treated and is in stable condition. She was admitted for observation.

The crash is under investigation by the Patrol.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary is an all-volunteer force, which provides assistance to troopers in the course of their duties. Among the duties of an Auxiliary officer are crash scene and traffic stop assistance, traffic control, disaster relief, and special detail support.

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03-195

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