Key Takeaways:
- One person died: Willard Colvin, 67, of Chillicothe, was killed when a car hit him Monday, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
- The crash happened on Rozelle Creek Road, just east of State Route 772 in Huntington Township, Ross County, at about 5:13 p.m. Sept. 28.
- The 23-year-old driver of the car reported no injuries, the patrol said.
- The patrol confirmed the crash remains under investigation. No information has been released on what led to it.
- The crash happened outside Franklin County and did not affect Columbus roads. The patrol closed Rozelle Creek Road for about two and a half hours Monday evening.
Quick Facts:
What: A car struck and killed a man who was in the roadway on Rozelle Creek Road in Ross County.
Where: Rozelle Creek Road near 194 Rozelle Creek Road, just east of State Route 772, Huntington Township, Ross County (south of Columbus).
When: Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, at about 5:13 p.m.
Who: Ohio State Highway Patrol (Chillicothe Post); Willard Colvin, 67, of Chillicothe; a 23-year-old McArthur woman driving the car; Huntington Township Fire and EMS; VA Fire Department; Ross County Coroner’s Office.
Status: Under investigation
Source: NBC4 Columbus
What Happened
A car struck and killed a 67-year-old pedestrian on Rozelle Creek Road in Ross County on Monday, Sept. 28, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. The patrol received the report at 5:13 p.m.
Troopers said Willard Colvin of Chillicothe was in the roadway near 194 Rozelle Creek Road, just east of State Route 772 in Huntington Township. A 2021 Kia K5 traveling southwest hit him, the patrol said.
Colvin died at the scene. The driver, a 23-year-old McArthur woman, reported no injuries, according to the patrol.
Huntington Township Fire and EMS, the VA Fire Department and the Ross County Coroner’s Office helped at the scene, the patrol said. Troopers from the Chillicothe Post are investigating.
What Officials Said
The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Colvin was pronounced dead at the scene and that the crash remains under investigation. The patrol also said Rozelle Creek Road was closed for about two and a half hours while troopers conducted the initial investigation.
NBC4 Columbus reported that authorities have not released information on what led to the crash.
What This Means for Columbus Residents
The crash happened in Ross County, outside Franklin County, and does not affect Columbus roads or commutes. The patrol has not reported any threat to the public.
Reports from the patrol did not list any charges. Rozelle Creek Road was closed for about two and a half hours Monday evening while troopers worked the scene.
Drivers who travel to Chillicothe or the surrounding Ross County area can expect troopers to continue investigating on Rozelle Creek Road near State Route 772.
Background
The Scioto Valley Guardian reported that this is the second serious crash on Rozelle Creek Road this month. The patrol has not released details on the earlier crash in the sources reviewed for this article.
What To Do
- Emergency: Call 911.
- Report an impaired or dangerous driver, or a roadside emergency: Dial *677 to reach the Ohio State Highway Patrol from a cell phone.
- Information about the investigation: Contact the patrol’s Chillicothe Post.
- Drivers on rural roads without sidewalks: Slow down and watch for people walking, especially near dusk.
Columbus Frontline will update as more information becomes available.