CLEVELAND — The driver who was killed on I-480 on Thursday morning has been identified as Daniel Ripepi, 62, of Independence, from A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home in Middleburg Heights, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.
On Thursday morning, a dump truck traveling west on I-480 near State Road with its bed up struck a highway sign, causing it to fall onto Ripepi’s Ford F-150 truck, according to the state highway patrol. The dump truck was leaving a construction site on I-480.
Ripepi, a licensed funeral director and pre-need counselor, was born and raised in Cleveland and has lived in Independence for the past 16 years. He leaves behind a wife, three children and three step-children. His funeral home has provided a place for many Clevelanders to grieve, including, recently, those mourning the death of Cleveland police detective James Skernivitz.
RELATED: 1 dead after dump truck with its bed up knocks highway sign onto pickup on I-480 WB near State Road
