The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission has terminated a snow plow driver following an incident that left dozens of vehicles damaged and several people hurt last month.
Officials terminated 54 year old snow plow driver Timothy S. Rakay for “engaging in grossly negligent behavior as to endanger life, property, public safety or otherwise cause the Commission to be liable for damage,” according to a statement obtained by News 5.
“Further, you failed to responsibly perform duties that are within the proper scope of your position as a Maintenance Worker Class II Roadway employee,” Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, wrote in a letter to the snow plow driver.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. on January 23 on the Ohio Turnpike near Sandusky. Rakay was reportedly driving westbound at a high rate of speed on the inside lane, causing snow and ice to be forcefully sprayed across the median onto vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.
According to the report, dozens of vehicles crashed, more than 50 vehicles were damaged, and 18 people were hurt.
Truck driver Michael Lemon caught the incident on his dash cam.
Rakay has been on administrative leave since shortly after the incident occurred.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. No charges have been filed at this time.
You can see Ohio State Highway Patrol photos of some of the damaged vehicles below.
