Crash in Parma highlights dangers for road crews in work zones

ODOT testing autonomous crash truck technology after years of high rates of crashes involving ODOT trucks

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A dangerous reminder Thursday morning in Parma after a city plow truck was hit while protecting a road crew. The crash underscores just how vulnerable workers are in active work zones, pushing the Ohio Department of Transportation to explore new technology aimed at keeping drivers out of harm's way.

Why it matters

Road crews face significant risks while working in active work zones, with high rates of crashes involving ODOT trucks in recent years. This incident highlights the need for improved safety measures to protect these essential workers.

The details

In the Parma crash, a city plow truck was hit while protecting a road crew. This type of situation has led ODOT to test autonomous crash truck technology, which uses self-driving vehicles to shield workers from oncoming traffic.

  • The crash occurred on Thursday morning.

The players

Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)

The state transportation agency that is testing autonomous crash truck technology to improve safety for road crews.

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What’s next

ODOT will continue to explore and implement new safety technologies to protect road crews in work zones.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing dangers that road crews face while working in active work zones, and the need for innovative solutions to improve their safety, such as the autonomous crash truck technology being tested by ODOT.