Turnpike dedicates signs honoring men killed on toll road

CASTALIA — Ohio Turnpike officials remembered five area men Friday who died on the toll road by dedicating signs in their honor. The men, who were performing construction work, died in four separate incidents spanning 33 years:• On Sept. 17, 1970, Monroeville residents Kenneth C. Bailey and Berton C. Stewart died while in a work zone east of Exit 91 near Fremont.• Three tow tuck operators — David R. Lescher, of Norwalk, in 1995; Frank Protzman, Jr., in 2002, of Sandusky; and Jeff Hotz, of Fremont, in 2003 — who also died near Exit 91.The memorial sign program is part of the turnpike's "Work Zone Awareness" campaign and its efforts to remind motorists to move over for vehicles with flashing lights.Officials who attended the ceremony included Ohio Turnpike executive director Randy Cole and Lt. Rick Reeder of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Members from three of the families attended, with immediate family receiving a replica sign from Cole."We continue our efforts to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring ever again on the Ohio Turnpike," Cole said. "In fact, by working closely with our partners at the Ohio State Highway Patrol on education and enforcement, there were no fatalities in turnpike work zones in 2017."Last year, the State Highway Patrol and Ohio Turnpike teamed up to conduct and publicize aerial speed enforcement in and near work zones and is doing so again this year. Because of these efforts together, the Patrol and Commission saw an almost 22 percent decrease in the number of traffic crashes in work zones in 2017. The campaign also led to a 44 percent decrease in the number of injury crashes. Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodMembers of the family of Frank Proztman, Jr., of Sandusky are pictured at the Ohio Turnpike's Castalia Maintenance Building. Holding the memorial sign replica at center is Frank Protzman, Sr. On the far right is Randy Cole, executive director of the Ohio Turnpike.