JACKSONTOWN − An Ohio Department of Transportation employee died Friday, after being struck by a 2020 Caterpillar 120 Motor Grader in a work zone on Ohio 60 near mile marker 5 in Muskingum County, according to Sgt. Bridget Matt, spokesperson for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

The Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 5:29 p.m. Friday that Marvin “Marty” Crane had been struck by a construction vehicle. Crane was transported to Genesis Hospital and later pronounced dead, according to Matt.

ODOT Spokesperson Matt Bruning said it’s the 163rd death in the organization’s history since it was formed in 1906. The last incident was on March 15, 2018, when 54-year-old ODOT worker John Pasko was struck after an SUV drifted into a work zone on the right side of the road, hitting Pasko. He was clearing brush along I-680 in Mahoning County.

But according to Bruning, the Ohio 60 work zone just south of Zanesville was closed to the public while ODOT was rebuilding the roadway.

“There is no traffic moving through there. There’s no safety message to motorists in this case,” said Bruning, who added this type of incident is “exceedingly rare.”

“This crash was inside the construction zone involving construction workers,” confirmed Matt. “It did not involve other drivers on the road.”

Officers have 10 days to complete the report, she added.

“Upon completion, the report will be submitted to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office for their review and see what, or if, charges will be filed,” she said.

ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks said in an ODOT news release that Crane’s death was “tragic.”

“His death leaves a void among us and reminds us of the fragility and preciousness of life,” Marchbanks said.

Memorials are already being placed outside the ODOT facility in Perry County where Crane was hired by ODOT as a highway technician in 2009. His passion for construction led him to being promoted last August to ODOT’s construction office where he worked as a project inspector, according to the release.

“Marty embodied excellence every day,” said ODOT District 5 Deputy Director Jason Sturgeon in the release. “His passion for his work was evident in everything he did, and his dedication and positive attitude inspired everyone around him. He truly loved his job and approached each task with enthusiasm and integrity.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation’s Public Employment Risk Reduction Program are also investigating since the incident took place on an active work site.

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: ODOT employee Marty Crane died after being struck by grader