COLUMBUS, Ohio – There was no indication early Tuesday morning what charges would be filed in the death of a tow-truck driver struck by a car while hooking up a vehicle at the side of a South Side roadway Monday night.
Columbus police say Brian Spencer failed to move over one lane, as required by Ohio law, as he came upon John Carpenter preparing to tow a vehicle on westbound State Route 104 west of Lockbourne Road just after 9:15 p.m.
He lost control of his vehicle and hit Carpenter, 59, the tow truck, the disabled vehicle and two other vehicles parked along the road.
Investigators say the emergency lights on Carpenter’s truck were flashing at the time of the accident.
Carpenter was pronounced dead at the scene. Spencer, 31, was transported to Grant Medical Center in stable condition and is in custody, according to police.
None of the three people in the other vehicles was seriously injured.
The investigation is continuing.