The Mount Orab community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of Christopher Latchford, 40, who died early Thursday morning after being struck by a vehicle while walking along Ohio 32 in Union Township, Clermont County. His sudden death has left family, friends and those who knew him struggling to come to terms with a life taken far too soon.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the tragic crash happened at approximately 4:10 a.m. when Latchford was walking in the roadway on Ohio 32. A 2020 Kia Sportage traveling westbound collided with him. Despite the circumstances, Latchford could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Kia, a 37-year-old woman, was not injured in the collision. Following the crash, she called 911 and reported that a man had run out in front of her vehicle. She told dispatchers that she did not believe he was breathing and that he was lying face down in the roadway and not moving.

In the aftermath of the crash, authorities temporarily closed the westbound lanes of Ohio 32, along with the ramp connecting westbound Ohio 32 to Eastgate Boulevard, as investigators worked to determine exactly what happened. The closures have since been lifted, but for Christopher’s loved ones, the impact of those early-morning events will remain long after the roadway has reopened.

A normal morning became a devastating moment for a family that now has to face life without someone they loved. The suddenness of Christopher’s death makes the loss even more difficult to comprehend. There was no opportunity for loved ones to prepare for goodbye, leaving behind memories, questions and an immeasurable sense of sorrow.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. At this time, authorities have not released additional details explaining why Christopher was in the roadway or the events immediately leading up to the collision.