Duty of Care

On Friday morning, October 16, 2026, Clay Township Police Department Sgt. Jacob Roesler, 26, was killed when his cruiser was struck by an SUV while he was responding to a crash in Ottawa County, Ohio, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol as reported by 10TV.

The patrol said Roesler was traveling south on State Route 51 in a Ford Explorer cruiser with emergency lights activated when the cruiser entered the intersection with State Route 795 and was hit by a Chevrolet Tahoe. Both vehicles went off the road; the cruiser hit a metal pole, and Roesler was pronounced dead at the scene. The Tahoe’s driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation. Ohio’s attorney general said Roesler had served the department for three years.

An intersection is where a responding vehicle meets cross traffic that may not see or hear it. The defenses to check are agency rules for slowing and clearing each lane before entering an intersection on a response, using lights and siren together, matching response mode to the call, and seat belt use on every drive.

• 10TV