COLUMBUS — Kokosing Construction is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the driver who struck and killed one of its workers in a downtown Columbus work zone last week and drove away.
The victim, Jordan Thomas, 25, died at the scene at 2:12 a.m. on February 28. He had worked in construction for three years. At the time of the crash, Thomas and his crew were on the job for the Ohio Department of Transportation on Interstate 70 near the State Route 315 interchange.
The driver has not been found.
What Happened
At approximately 2:01 a.m., a driver in an early-2000s maroon Toyota sedan was heading westbound on I-70 when the car entered the active work zone near the SR-315 interchange just west of downtown Columbus. The driver swerved right, hit Thomas and a generator, and fled the scene without stopping.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office identified Thomas as the victim earlier this week.
This tragic event is part of a string of recent traffic incidents, including the where another driver abandoned injured passengers.
Two Rewards on the Table
Kokosing Construction announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the driver’s arrest. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is separately offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest or indictment.
Anyone with information can call the Columbus Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit at (614) 645-4767 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477. Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips.
Police are especially looking for anyone who witnessed the crash or who has dashcam footage from that stretch of I-70 around 2 a.m. on February 28.
A Statewide Problem
Ohio Department of Transportation Chief Communications Officer David Rose said work zone crashes happen far too often in Ohio.
“These are preventable if people would slow down, don’t drive distracted and do not drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Rose said.
ODOT said its crews were struck 125 times last year. Ohio averages about 4,000 work zone crashes every year statewide.
What the Driver Could Face
Under Ohio law, drivers must stop after a crash on a public road. Leaving the scene of a crash that causes a death is a third-degree felony. If prosecutors can show the driver knew someone died and still drove away, the charge rises to a second-degree felony. Consequences can include prison time, a mandatory license suspension, and restitution.
No arrests have been made. The Columbus Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit continues to investigate.
This article is based on statements from the Columbus Division of Police, Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Kokosing Construction, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Published: March 6, 2026 | ColumbusFrontline.com