Investigation into fatal collision
The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has identified 46-year-old Jonathan Allen Young as the City of Cincinnati employee killed in a collision on the Norwood Lateral on Thursday. Young, a veteran supervising traffic worker with the Department of Public Services who had been with the city since 2002, died following an incident involving a Metro bus and two municipal maintenance trucks.
According to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at approximately 12:30 p.m. in the westbound lanes of State Route 562. Authorities report that the Metro bus struck a stationary city maintenance truck positioned on the shoulder. The force of the impact propelled the pickup truck forward into the trailer of a lead maintenance vehicle. Three city employees were conducting scheduled work at the site when the collision occurred.
Ongoing emergency response
In addition to the fatality, a second city worker sustained injuries and is expected to survive. The driver of the Metro bus was also transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment. The current condition of the bus driver remains unconfirmed as of Friday morning.
The incident forced the closure of the Norwood Lateral for several hours while the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Safety Unit conducted an on-site investigation. The roadway was reopened to traffic by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Official statements
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval issued a statement mourning the loss of a long-term public servant. “Jonathan Young gave decades to our City. He joined his DPS brothers and sisters every day in making sure Cincinnati runs, regardless of the circumstances,” Pureval stated. City Manager Sheryl Long echoed these sentiments, describing the city staff as a close-knit “Team Cincy” and confirming that the administration is providing support to affected employees.
Metro, the regional transit authority, confirmed it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. “Tragically, an individual involved in the accident has died as a result of their injuries. Our thoughts are with their family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time,” the transit agency said in a formal release.