ALLEN COUNTY, Ohio (WLIO) - An Ohio Department of Transportation District 1 worker is lucky to be alive after he was nearly struck by a car on Interstate 75 in Allen County.
Earlier this week, ODOT highway technician Andy Shively and his partner were placing a message sign to alert drivers of road work on northbound I-75, about a mile and a half south of Bluffton and the Bentley Road exit. After placing the sign, Shively was walking back to the driver’s seat of his truck when he noticed a speeding car crossing over the white line, heading directly toward him. With only a split second to react, Shively threw his body flat against the left rear door of the truck, narrowly avoiding the car by inches. The vehicle did strike and damage the truck’s left side mirror. Shively, grateful to be unharmed, hopes the incident serves as a reminder for motorists to always pay attention while behind the wheel.
ODOT highway technician Andy Shively recounts nearly being struck by a car on I-75.
“All I could do was jump up and lean against the side of the truck, and I guess God intervened and I’m here to talk about it today,” Andy Shively shares, the ODOT highway technician who was nearly hit on I-75. “Everybody has a family or you're part of a family. You're a child of somebody. You're the parent of a child. Everybody on the road... If it's construction, if it's the police, if it's just somebody that pulled over for some reason, give them room. It could save their life.”
ODOT District 1 shared photos on its Facebook page showing the damage to both vehicles involved in the incident. The images show the side mirrors of both vehicles damaged during the close call on I-75.
