A longtime Austinburg firefighter died Friday, a day after he was struck by a vehicle while he was directing traffic at an accident scene.
Responders were working a crash on Route 307 in Jefferson Township around 9 p.m. when Dave Lemponen was struck by a vehicle traveling just under the posted 55 mph limit.
Lemponen, 83, was conscious after the crash, Ohio State Patrol Lt. Bret Henderson told the Star Beacon. He was flown to a hospital in Cleveland where he died Friday.
“He’s been a rock of the force and a rock in the township for a number of years,” Township Fiscal Officer David Thomas said about Lemponen.
Austinburg Fire Chief William Wilms said Lemponen served with the department for close to 60 years.
“He taught me many things,” Wilms said.
The cause of both accidents are being investigated by state troopers.