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Officers are searching for the truck driver involved in a fatal crash on I-77

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP – The Ohio Highway Patrol is searching for the driver of a tractor-trailer involved in a crash in October that killed a man.

Both vehicles were northbound on Interstate 77 near Strasburg around 11:40 a.m. on Oct. 24, according to Sgt. William Bower of the New Philadelphia Post. The driver of the tractor-trailer was in the right lane when he turned left to use a crossover to head south on the interstate. He was struck by a 2024 Kia ​​SUV traveling in the left lane driven by Dennis L. Alsept, 78, of Bolivar.

The driver of the tractor-trailer fled the scene after the accident.

Alsept was taken to Aultman Hospital in Canton, where he died of his injuries seven days later on October 31.

Bowers said police believe the tractor-trailer was a red commercial vehicle with a sleeper cab and a flatbed trailer.

“We're pretty deep into this investigation,” he said.

Unfortunately, videos taken by businesses in the area were either too far away or at a poor angle to provide good identification of the vehicle, he said.

If the driver is found, he could face criminal charges, he noted.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or [email protected].

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