CLEVELAND — The Ohio Turnpike Commission announced Tuesday it has fired Timothy Rakay, who was allegedly the plow truck driver responsible for sending piles of snow and ice into oncoming traffic on Jan. 23.
The Ohio Turnpike Commission confirmed that cars were damaged in a miles-long swath of the turnpike in Erie County. The Turnpike Commission confirmed multiple injuries relating to the incident. The incident was believed to have started around the State Route 250 interchange.
Fifty-one vehicle owners have filed reports of damage with the Turnpike Commission.
Turnpike Commission director Ferzan Ahmed notified Rakay of his dismal in a letter on Tuesday.
“Notice is hereby given that the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission is terminating your employment effective immediately,” Ahmed wrote to Rakay. “Your employment is being terminated for an egregious Chargeable Accident on January 23, 2022, while engaging in grossly negligent behavior as to endanger life, property, public safety or otherwise cause the Commission to be liable for damage. Further, you failed to responsibly perform duties that are within the proper scope of your position as a Maintenance Worker Class II Roadway employee.”
Photos released by the Ohio State Highway Patrol indicated that numerous vehicles had broken windshields following the incident.
“This was an isolated incident involving a single snowplow operator,” Ferzan added. “It is not representative of our employees or our operations.”
The National Weather Service reported four inches of snow on Jan. 23 in Erie County.
