[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ min_height=”28px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”5000px” max_width_tablet=”5000px” max_width_phone=”5000%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”|auto|-51px|auto|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Playfair Display||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”38px” text_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”63px|||65px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||38px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||32px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”38px” text_font_size_phone=”32px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″ width_last_edited=”on|phone” width_phone=”70%”]<\/p>\n
Right of Way: <\/span>The Risk of Walking Off-Campus<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#FFFFFF” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width_tablet=”” max_width_phone=”70%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”||12px|65px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||12px|38px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|0px|12px|32px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”24px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”24px|||0px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”24px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Inter||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”|||65px|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”|||38px|false|false” custom_margin_phone=”|||32px|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By Grayson Newbourn and Izza Haq<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/files\/2026\/07\/pedestrian.png” title_text=”pedestrian” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Preston Fischer moved home after finishing up a contract job as a fisheries research technician in Wyoming, studying his favorite fish, the muskellunge. He had obtained his captain\u2019s license and had plans to start a fish farm, a lifelong dream of his.<\/p>\n Ten days after his return, that dream was taken from him.<\/p>\n On Nov. 2, 2025, following the Ohio State vs. Penn State football game, Fischer \u2014 a 2023 forestry, fisheries and wildlife graduate \u2014 was killed by a reckless driver on the sidewalk, as he was en route to escort a friend home from Fourth Street.<\/p>\n The vehicle was going 54 mph in a 25 mph zone, and struck a tree and street sign before eventually hitting Fischer. He was pronounced dead at Grant Medical Center shortly after the accident occurred at 1:30 a.m.<\/p>\n \u201cHe never met a stranger, ever,\u201d Kristy Fischer, Preston\u2019s mother, said. \u201cThere was someone in his life that was 62, and he said, \u2018How could it be that my hero was 25?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Preston Fischer is one of two fatalities reported within the university area in the past five years.<\/p>\n Pedestrian deaths are relatively rare. In Franklin County, there were 25 reported in 2021 and 18 in 2024.<\/p>\n Though that shows a decrease, a Lantern analysis of pedestrian-vehicle crashes over the past five years shows a substantial increase in serious and minor injuries. Serious injuries in the county increased from 54 in 2021 to 77 in 2024, while minor crashes increased from 241 to 346.<\/span><\/p>\n The university area alone saw an increase from five serious injuries in 2021 to 11 serious injuries and one fatality in 2025. Minor crashes increased from 51 in 2021 to 71 in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n The increase comes despite several efforts to make Columbus\u2019s streets safer \u2014 including the University District, which boasts a daytime population of nearly 100,000 people, and its surrounding areas, according to the <\/span>Columbus Planning Division<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2020, the City of Columbus launched its version of Vision Zero \u2013 a nationwide initiative to end traffic fatalities and serious injuries, with an emphasis on the idea that \u201call deaths are preventable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#000000″ background_enable_image=”off” min_height=”745.1px” min_height_tablet=”745.1px” min_height_phone=”482.8px” min_height_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”93%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_margin=”36px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/files\/2026\/07\/IMG_6953.jpeg” title_text=”IMG_6953″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”78%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” width=”78%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-13px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Preston Fischer at the SP 2023 commencement ceremony with his family. Fischer was struck and killed by a reckless driver on Nov. 2, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of Kristy Fischer<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of important work happening around University District and elsewhere throughout the city,\u201d Katherine Swidarski, Vision Zero Coordinator, said. \u201cI know it can be challenging if you\u2019re not seeing visible change as fast as you\u2019d like, or reaction to incident(s) as fast as possible \u2026 that\u2019s something that frustrates us internally as well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n For Ginger Tornes, founder of Friends and Families for Safe Streets Columbus \u2014 a <\/span>non-partisan activist group that advocates for safer road design, safer vehicles and improved post-crash care \u2014 her concern for pedestrian safety extends beyond frustration. On March 30, the group held a vigil for pedestrian traffic deaths outside Columbus City Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cAt first I thought, \u2018OK, great \u2026 our work is done, they\u2019ve adopted Vision Zero, they\u2019ll take it from here,\u201d Tornes said. \u201cWell, unfortunately it doesn\u2019t work that way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Angela Harden, an Ohio State research assistant professor who specializes in injury, epidemiology and traffic safety, said although crashes are persisting, policymakers and communities are beginning to draw more attention to the issue.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/files\/2026\/07\/Untitled-design.jpg” title_text=”Untitled design” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_text_color=”#727272″ text_font_size=”15px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-14px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Community members at the Friends and Families for Safe Streets Columbus pedestrian vigil and protest outside Columbus City Hall. Credit: Courtesy of Ginger Tornes<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone is seriously injured, like in a crosswalk, the response of the community should reflect the severity of the outcome,\u201d Harden said. \u201cPeople assume, and rightly so, that they\u2019re protected in a marked crosswalk, and I think this bill helps to bring the law closer to that expectation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Harden has been working with Ohio House Representatives Mike Odioso and Mark Sigrist, who are taking action to increase the penalties that drivers who seriously injure pedestrians receive.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>\u201cWhat used to be death is now a seriously maimed individual, and the world changes for them obviously, but also changes for their caretakers, their family \u2014 the feeling was we just need to have an elevated level of consequence for that,\u201d Sigrist said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>Under current Ohio law, a citation for Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian in a Crosswalk is typically classified as a minor misdemeanor, carrying a maximum fine of $150 and potentially community service.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>The Lantern reached out to the Columbus Police Department for comment regarding the citation process, but did not receive a response.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>In March, Representatives Odioso and Sigrist introduced House Bill 714, which would change the penalty for drivers that injure a pedestrian from a minor misdemeanor to a fourth-degree misdemeanor, increasing the fine to $250 and introducing the potential of jail time, depending on the circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span>The bill was in-part inspired by a case in Grove City, in which Sigrist said a partially paralyzed man in a motorized scooter was struck and seriously injured crossing a wide, high-traffic street, leaving him nonverbal and unable to communicate with his loved ones.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0Pedestrians struck along arterial roads \u2014 main roads with multiple lanes \u2014 carry a high risk of fatality or serious injury, due to faster speeds and longer crossing distances. According to Jordan Petrov, senior planner at MORPC, the risk of injury on Ohio State\u2019s campus is lower than in other areas, as the campus mainly consists of narrow, two-lane streets.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/files\/2026\/07\/IMG_6951.jpeg” title_text=”IMG_6951″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_text_color=”#727272″ text_font_size=”15px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-14px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Natalie Harvey, a second-year dental student at Ohio State\u2019s College of Dentistry, in the hospital after injuries she sustained from being struck by a car at a marked crosswalk. Credit: Courtesy of Natalie Harvey\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Despite this, campus is still surrounded by multiple principal and minor arterial roads, such as North High Street, Summit Street and Lane Avenue, where data shows these accidents predominantly take place.<\/span><\/p>\n While arterial roads make up roughly five percent of the area’s total mileage, The Lantern\u2019s analysis shows they account for more than 50 percent of vulnerable road user crashes, and more than 60 percent of those crashes result in a fatal or serious injury.<\/span><\/p>\n In July 2024, Natalie Harvey was crossing one of these intersections \u2014 at North High Street and East 14th Ave \u2014 when her day took a turn for the worse.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI feel like it happened so fast \u2026 one second I was crossing the street, and the next thing I knew I was sitting on the street,\u201d Harvey said. \u201cI remember I looked around and I saw people looking at me, and then I was like, \u2018Oh my gosh, this is bad.\u2019 \u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Harvey, a second-year dental student at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry, had been struck by a car, fracturing her arm.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Two surgeries, 30 stitches, full-body road rash scars and three months of physical rehabilitation later, Harvey is still recovering from her injuries, nearly two years after she was hit.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI have back problems and stuff like that, that I didn\u2019t have before. Obviously, [when] you get hit by a car, your body is just not the same,\u201d Harvey said.<\/span><\/p>\n Not only is she still dealing with her injuries, but with the financial and emotional repercussions.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEven after insurance, the cost [of medical care] is just unbelievable,\u201d Harvey said. \u201cI\u2019m also still a student, so I have loans for grad school, so it\u2019s just on top of that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The Lantern\u2019s findings stem from data obtained from the Ohio State Highway Patrol\u2019s crash dashboard, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and MORPC data obtained from the City of Columbus\u2019 Vision Zero Action Plan.<\/span><\/p>\n The data used by the city to track traffic incidents contains notable gaps. Key details \u2014 such as road type and the number of streetlights \u2014 are often not specified. Over half of the roads in the university area have no classification.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a kind of human error that compounds \u2026 officers are obviously, they\u2019re reporting these crashes and they have a lot of other duties and things as well,\u201d Petrov said. \u201cThe data is not perfect and it’s sort of an, again, multi-agency partnership to try and improve it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This year, Petrov said MORPC is planning to launch their own non-motorized data collection plan to better understand where there are higher volumes of pedestrians and bicyclists.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere’s always a need for more data,\u201d Petrov said.<\/span><\/p>\n The number of fatal or serious injury crashes seems small in comparison to Columbus\u2019s rapidly growing population \u2014 roughly two percent of all crashes, pedestrian and non-pedestrian, result in a fatal or serious injury. Crashes involving pedestrians make up roughly nine percent of all crashes.<\/span><\/p>\n But looking inside those statistics unveils a concerning trend \u2014 over the past five years, the percentage of pedestrian crashes resulting in a fatal or serious injury has increased from 31 percent in 2021 to 55 percent in 2025.<\/span><\/p>\n Recent data from Vision Zero Columbus shows mixed progress for the city as a whole, with fatalities slightly decreasing but overall crashes and serious injuries trending upward. Swidarski said population growth and increased roadway use contribute to the trend, while the city remains focused on reducing the most severe incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOur preliminary data shows fatal crashes declining again in 2025,\u201d Swidarski said. \u201cThere are a variety of factors here too \u2026 the population in Columbus is growing, so even as our city is getting larger, the population is getting larger [and] we have more people traveling our roadways. We\u2019re still seeing a decline in those fatal crashes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Swidarski also noted that August 2025 was the city\u2019s first month with zero reported traffic fatalities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thelantern.com\/projects\/files\/2026\/07\/Right-Of-Way.png” title_text=”Right Of Way” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”39%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor||||||||” text_text_color=”#727272″ text_font_size=”15px” width=”78%” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-14px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-14px||0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A bar chart showing the percentage of mileage, vulnerable road user crashes and vulnerable road user crashes resulting in a fatal or serious injury, based on functional road classifications in the university area. Credit: Grayson Newbourn | Former Managing Arts & Life Editor<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_padding=”||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n There are several upcoming projects in the University District, including crosswalk enhancements at Indianola and Chittenden that will add features like median islands, curb extensions and flashing pedestrian signals, according to Swidarski.<\/span><\/p>\n The city is also planning to resurface parts of North High Street and install a protected bike lane along North 4th Street, similar to the current layout of Summit Street.<\/span><\/p>\n Swidarski said for those who come across pedestrian areas that need improvement, concerns can be submitted to 311, Columbus\u2019s non-emergency line.<\/span><\/p>\n Petrov said another important feature is road lighting. For bikers especially, a majority of crashes resulting in fatal and serious injuries occur at night.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere’s a lot more pedestrian traffic \u2026 happening during daylight hours,\u201d Petrov said. \u201cTaking those into account, there is a disproportionate amount of these crashes that happen during dark, evening, middle of the night and early morning hours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Even with well-lit roadways, the risk of fatal and serious injuries during the night is still high. More than half of pedestrian-bicyclist crashes happen during daylight hours due to increased traffic. However, the crashes that occur at night account for nearly 60 percent of fatal and serious injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n Petrov said the Vision Zero Action Plan will be updated to include lighting improvements across the city, after analyzing which locations will take priority.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite these plans, Tornes said the city needs to listen to the community\u2019s needs more, emphasizing the efficacy of \u201cquick builds.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat I\u2019d like to see the officials do is involve the community more, and the residents,\u201d Tornes said. \u201cGet creative and don\u2019t be afraid to try something different, and if that doesn\u2019t work, fine, take it out. That\u2019s the beauty of a quick build.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Tornes pointed to recent pedestrian-focused developments near Columbus College of Art and Design\u2019s campus, specifically at East Gay Street and Cleveland Avenue, as an example of successful quick builds. Through a collaboration with the landscape architecture firm MKSK, the college implemented road diets, which narrows a street and adds medians between opposing traffic lanes, as well as a raised intersection and ample pedestrian yield signals.<\/span><\/p>\n Tornes said these road diets can be implemented on any street with 25,000 vehicles or less \u2014 which includes a majority of roads in the High Injury Network, the streets \u201cthat have had the greatest number of fatal, serious injury and\/or vulnerable user crashes per half mile segment,\u201d according to <\/span>Vision Zero<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n