Jogger Killed By Snowplow In Connecticut: An Attempt To Avoid Puddle Causes Snowplow To Hit Jogger

A jogger was killed by a snowplow in Connecticut when he attempted to avoid a mud puddle or debris. The 25-year-old man had a set of headphones on and was unable to hear or focus on what was going on around him when he swayed out onto the road, ABC News reports.

According to more in-depth coverage by Republican-American of Waterbury, Sgt. Greg Wityak tells the news site that that the jogger was struck as he moved onto the road with an oncoming snowplow headed his way. The truck wasn’t operating the plow at that time. Police say the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with them.

Once the jogger was transported to Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, he was pronounced dead. The plow driver was also given a medical evaluation as a precautionary measure following the tragedy.

Wityak explains that the jogger was running south on the southbound-side of the road around 5:15 a.m Sunday morning. The man then unexpectedly darted further onto the road and that’s when the snowplow hit the jogger. There was a puddle of water right in the way that caused the runner to maneuver himself around it and got struck by the large vehicle.

South Main Street from Litchfield Street to Cook Street is reportedly closed to traffic while an accident investigation team from Torrington Police Department analyzes the scene; it’s expected to remain shut down until the afternoon. State police are also involved in the case because the accident involves in a commercial vehicle. The truck is still at the scene and blood-laden clothes from the 25-year-old jogger were present during the investigation.

In a report by NBC Connecticut, Wityak says that the road was icy and slushy when the jogger was killed by the snowplow.

“He came out into the travel lane to avoid some of the snow and ice that was built up in the road to avoid the plow.”

The spot is a popular area for joggers. There’s a well-lit park nearby that runners often use and this is believed to be why the unidentified jogger was on the road at the time he was stuck and killed.

The Inquisitr also wrote on another instance in which a jogger was killed. The jogger was mauled by two exotic dogs, not an actual vehicle like the jogger hit by the snowplow in Connecticut was.

Those who walk or jog by roads are to some degree risking their safety, especially if they wear headphones.

[Image via NBC Connecticut]