Pedestrian identified in deadly I-75 crash in Middletown

The woman who died after being struck and killed by a vehicle on Interstate 75 near Ohio 122 has been identified as Stephanie Roach, 32, of Middletown, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Lebanon Post.

A 2008 Honda Ridgeline, driven by Sean Cottingham, 27, of Dayton, was traveling south on I-75 when he struck Roach in the middle lanes as she was crossing the road from the east.

Roach was pronounced dead at the scene. Cottingham was not injured.

FIRST REPORT:

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating why a woman was on the highway before she was struck and killed by a vehicle ahead of the morning rush hour traffic.

Around 5:30 a.m. today, crews shut down southbound Interstate 75 near Ohio 122 for a couple of hours because of the crash.

Details of the crash have not been released, but Ohio State Patrol Sgt. Christina Hayes said weather was a factor in the crash.

“It’s always a factor we have to look at, weather conditions and roadway conditions and stuff like that,” she said.

Hayes could not provide details of the crash, calling it “an ongoing investigation,” and said investigators were following up with witnesses this morning.

Southbound I-75 reopened just before 7:30 a.m. today.