1 Injured in Hit-and-Run Dump Truck Accident on U.S. Route 250 in Tuscarawas County, OH

Tuscarawas County, OH — August 12, 2025, one person was injured in a hit-and-run dump truck accident at about 12:15 p.m. on U.S. Route 250.

Authorities said a service technician was working on a disabled commercial truck near mile marker 12.1 when he was hit by a southbound dump truck. The truck driver did not stop after the collision.

The technician, a 24-year-old man, was seriously injured in the crash, according to authorities, while the driver of the disabled truck was treated for possible injuries. Both had been working on the truck’s front left tire at the time of the collision.

Investigators found the 2005 Sterling L8500 dump truck and its driver a few hours after the crash, authorities said, but no citations or charges have been filed at this time.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Tuscarawas County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When most people hear about a hit-and-run involving a dump truck, the first thing they want to know is how someone operating such a massive vehicle could strike a person and just keep driving. That’s a reasonable question, and one that deserves real answers. But just as important is understanding what the circumstances were at the moment of impact. What was the dump truck doing? Where was it supposed to be? And how visible was the technician on the side of the road?

From the information that’s been released so far, we know a commercial truck was disabled on the side of U.S. Route 250 and two people were working on the front left tire when a southbound dump truck came along and hit one of them. What’s not clear is whether the technician was in the lane of traffic, on the shoulder or even partially under the truck at the time of the impact. Each possibility points to a very different explanation of what went wrong.

Then there’s the issue of the dump truck leaving the scene. Fleeing after a crash, especially one involving serious injuries, tends to raise suspicions, but it doesn’t automatically prove the driver was at fault. In fact, it could be that the driver didn’t realize they hit anyone at all. That may sound far-fetched, but in my experience, depending on visibility, road conditions and what part of the truck made contact, it’s not impossible.

The fact that police were able to track down the dump truck and its driver just hours later is encouraging, but the absence of any citations or charges suggests authorities are still trying to figure out what exactly happened. That’s not uncommon in serious commercial vehicle crashes, because getting to the truth requires more than just measuring skid marks or interviewing witnesses.

To understand whether the driver knew they hit someone, and whether they could or should have avoided the collision, investigators will need to examine several pieces of key evidence. That includes any dash camera footage, GPS records and engine control module (ECM) data from the dump truck. Was the truck veering? Was the driver distracted? Was he speeding? We don’t yet know.

It’s also worth asking: Who owns the dump truck? Was the driver an employee of a company or operating as an independent contractor? Depending on that answer, the legal responsibility may not stop with the driver. I’ve handled cases where a driver was involved in a crash, but it turned out the real issue was that the company hadn’t done its due diligence in hiring or training them, or failed to maintain safe operating procedures.

None of that speculation changes the fact that someone suffered serious injuries while doing their job on the side of the road. The only way to ensure accountability is to look beyond the surface and collect the kind of objective, verifiable evidence that tells the full story.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear whether the technician was in the road or fully on the shoulder when he was hit, a crucial detail for determining fault.
• The dump truck driver left the scene, but whether they were aware of the collision is still unknown.
• Investigating black box data, dash cams and driver records will be key to understanding how and why the crash happened.
• Identifying who owns the dump truck and employs the driver may reveal broader liability beyond just the individual behind the wheel.
• Thorough, independent investigation is essential to ensure that the right parties are held accountable.