Boy tried to warn Clark County dad of oncoming car before fatal strike

An 11-year-old boy tried to warn his father of an oncoming car before it struck and killed the 42-year-old New Carlisle man, according to Huber Heights police records.

Around 10:12 p.m. Friday, a car hit John D. Williams on the Interstate 70 westbound off-ramp to Ohio 202. Medics took him to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died Tuesday, a spokeswoman said.

“My dad just got hit on the side of the highway,” said a female 911 caller, one of three people with Williams on the side of the road, according to police records. “John, John, John, John, please.”

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Police said Williams was trying to find a dislodged piece of plastic he had used as a car window. William’s son told police “his father exited the vehicle, stepped into the exit ramp lane of travel, and began to bend over to grab an item.”

The boy “advised he yelled several times for his father’s attention, stating there was a car coming,” but said by the time Williams “looked up, he saw the car coming and attempted to run north to the shoulder, to get out of the way.” The boy said the oncoming car also began to swerve north, before hitting his father.

The driver said he initially believed he saw a dog in the road, before realizing it was a man hunched over picking something up off the ground. Both Williams and the driver swerved the same direction, he said. Williams flew up onto the windshield, shattering it. The driver braked, and Williams tumbled off the rear of the car.

The driver is not expected to face charges, the police report said. Neither alcohol nor drugs were suspected factors in the crash.

Police said Williams was dressed in a red flannel shirt when struck by the Hyundai Genesis. Near him were several personal items, including an unscratched lottery ticket, a car key and lighter. His cigarettes were found 40 to 50 feet away from his body, police said. A witness performed CPR on Williams, whose injuries medics described as “extremely severe.”

Williams was engaged to be married, police records said.

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