OSP continues investigation on why woman was crossing I-75 Thursday

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said its investigation into why a 32-year-old Middletown woman was in the middle of the highway Thursday morning is “ongoing” and could take time.

Patrol Sgt. Christina Hayes said investigators are following up with witness to the accident that killed Stephanie Roach on Thursday morning on Interstate 75 near the Ohio 122 exit. She also said investigators are waiting on the coroner’s autopsy report.

Roach was on southbound I-75, in the middle of the highway, when she was struck by a 2008 Honda Ridgeline driven by Sean Cottingham, 27, of Dayton. Hayes said she was crossing the interstate from the east and died at the scene of the accident.

Cottingham was not injured.

Troopers were called at 5:17 a.m. Thursday to I-75 near mile marker 33 in the city of Middletown. The fatal crash caused highway to be shut down for nearly two hours.

While details of the crash have not been released, Hayes said weather was a factor in the crash.

“It’s always a factor we have to look at, weather conditions and roadway conditions and stuff like that,” she said.

Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Middletown Division of Fire and the Middletown Division of Police assisted with investigating the crash.

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About the Author

Michael D. Pitman

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.