EUCLID, Ohio — The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate a Wednesday night crash involving three vehicles that killed 51-year-old Donald Thompson. It occurred on I-90 westbound near North Lakeland Boulevard in Euclid.
Investigators said Thompson, who was driving a Jeep Compass, struck a GMC T-Series pickup truck from behind around 10:35 p.m. The truck belonged to WL Markers, Inc., a company contracted by ODOT. The company told News 5’s Damon Maloney its workers were replacing reflectors in the roadway when the crash happened.
“As far as the preliminary investigation, they had all their warning equipment assigned as they're required to do so,” said Lt. Pablo Cruz with the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Cruz said after the crash, Thompson got out of his vehicle.
“(He) was on the interstate still and appeared to be getting stuff out of his vehicle- personal belongings or stuff like that,” Cruz said. “Probably about four minutes or so after the initial crash is when the fatal crash actually took place.”
The highway patrol said around 10:38 p.m., a 57-year-old woman from Painesville driving an Equinox struck the rear of the Jeep Compass, pushing it into Thompson, who was standing in the roadway. They said the Jeep Compass then struck the rear of the GMC pickup truck.
Investigators said the woman had non-life-threatening injuries. None of the workers from WL Markers, Inc. were hurt.
Impairment is not suspected.
No charges were filed.
Thompson’s younger sister, Barbie, said he was known to constantly be working. She said he currently was a full-time Uber driver.
“Whenever you need a ride, he’ll come and give you a ride wherever you need to go. He don’t ever say no,” Barbie said. “You could ask him for anything, and he’ll do it for you. He would make time for you when you call him.”
She said an alert on her phone first informed her of a potential problem involving her brother.
“We had this app called Life360. So, at 10:30 last night it sent a text message saying he may have been in an accident, and his location was at a standstill,” Barbie said. “Every time I called his phone, it goes straight to voicemail. And then the highway patrol came over. They came to my door about 2 o’clock and told us this morning.”
Thompson’s mother, Helen, said her son was the “leader of the band” as the oldest of four siblings.
“He meant a whole lot to us,” Helen said. “He’s a hard-working person.”
They said Thompson leaves behind a 27-year-old stepson and several nieces and nephews.
Thompson's family is working on funeral arrangements and have setup a GoFundMe account to help.
Lt. Cruz said if involved in an accident that’s not serious or fatal, drivers should get as far off the roadway as possible until law enforcement arrives. He said if the vehicle isn’t drivable, exit safely if possible and get outside of the way of traffic.
"Whether it's over a guard rail, behind a big solid concrete pillar or something along those lines,” Lt. Cruz said. “That will actually provide you some cover if somebody does happen to leave the roadway.”
