MONTGOMERY, Ohio – A Cincinnati man is facing serious charges after authorities say he crashed into a marked police cruiser in a highway construction zone, injuring a state trooper late Thursday night.
According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSP), the incident occurred just before 10:30 p.m. on the ramp from eastbound I-275 to southbound I-71. The trooper was parked in a marked cruiser with emergency lights activated, monitoring a construction detail, when a 2017 Jeep Cherokee driven by Patrick Donovan, 34, struck the rear of the cruiser.
The impact forced the cruiser into a nearby construction vehicle parked on the shoulder assisting with a lane closure.
The trooper, stationed at OSP’s Georgetown post in Brown County, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. He is expected to recover.
OSP officials say Donovan showed multiple signs of impairment, including a strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. He refused to perform any field sobriety or chemical tests.
He was arrested and booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center at 3:50 a.m. Friday. Donovan faces charges including Operating a Vehicle Impaired (OVI) and assault on a police officer.
The crash remains under investigation, and no additional injuries were reported.
