CLEVELAND — Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) are continuing to investigate a fatal incident on Interstate 480 westbound Thursday morning that took the life of a 62-year-old Independence man.
According to an OSHP release, a Western Star dump truck was headed west with its bed raised when the bed struck a sign above the highway near State Road around 8:45 a.m. The sign then fell over and landed on a gray Ford F-150, killing the driver.
The driver of the dump truck has been identified as 38-year-old Jason Beard of Warrensville Heights. He was not injured in the crash.
No charges have been filed against Beard at this time.
The driver has been identified as Daniel Ripepi of Independence, according to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner. Ripepi was the Vice President of A. Ripepi & Sons Funeral Home.
Only one lane on I-480 was open for a time, with cars backed up all the way towards the I-77 interchange.
This is a developing story. Please stay with 3News for further updates.