A person narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 670 near Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 3, 2026 [1].
The incident highlights the extreme danger pedestrians face when stranded on high-speed highways, where driver distraction or visibility issues can lead to fatal collisions.
Footage of the event shows an unidentified person standing on the highway shoulder near a broken-down red car [1]. Around 6 a.m. [2], an oncoming vehicle failed to maintain its lane and headed directly toward the red car and the pedestrian. At the last possible second, the person leapt away from the vehicle to avoid the impact [1].
The oncoming car continued its trajectory and crashed into the broken-down red car [1]. The timing of the leap prevented the pedestrian from being crushed between the two vehicles or struck directly by the moving car [1].
Local authorities have not released further details regarding the condition of the drivers or the pedestrian involved in the crash. The footage, which captured the near-miss, serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with vehicle breakdowns on the I-670 corridor [1].
Emergency responders typically advise motorists to move as far away from travel lanes as possible during a breakdown — often suggesting that passengers exit the vehicle and move behind a guardrail — to avoid similar scenarios.
“A person narrowly avoided being struck by a vehicle on the shoulder of Interstate 670.”
This incident underscores the critical safety window for pedestrians on interstate shoulders. Because high-speed collisions often occur with little warning, the ability to react in a fraction of a second is often the only factor preventing a fatality when a vehicle leaves the roadway.
