MANSFIELD — Trenton Gallaway joined the Richland County Highway Department in June 2023 as a seasonal employee, right after graduating from Lucas High School.
He became a full-time employee in March, driving a truck and working to repair and maintain county roads.
The 20-year Gallaway was killed doing a job he enjoyed Wednesday in a worksite accident.
He was outside of a highway department vehicle on a road maintenance project when he was struck by a vehicle trying to pass on the left at about 2:24 p.m. on Bowman Street Road in Franklin Township.
The Mansfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said Gallaway died at the scene, an accident that sent shockwaves throughout the community.
“Everybody I have spoken to, including his family and other workers, said he enjoyed this type of work,” Richland County Engineer Adam Gove said Thursday afternoon.
“He was a hard worker and just a good young man,” the engineer said.
The patrol said the county highway department was completing intermittent moving road maintenance along Bowman Street Road, between Myers Road and Amoy West Road.
Gove’s office and the Richland County Board of Commissioners issued a joint statement Thursday afternoon saying flags at county buildings will fly at half-staff for three days, beginning Friday, in Gallaway’s honor.
(Below is a PDF of a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon by Richland County Engineer Adam Gove and the county Board of Commissioners on the death of county highway department employee Trent Gallaway.)
“Trent was not just an outstanding county highway maintenance worker, but also a cherished member of our community,” the statement said.
The statement described Gallaway’s “unwavering dedication, exceptional skill and a commitment to service that inspired us all.”
“His work had a meaningful impact and Richland County will deeply feel his absence,” the statement said. “In this difficult time, our prayers are with Trent’s family, friends and all those who have the privilege to know him.
“We stand together in mourning this indescribable loss and honor his public service,” the statement said.
Troopers said Delana Kunz, 43 of Shelby, was driving a 2019 white Nissan Rogue SUV southeast on Bowman Street Road when the vehicle collided with Gallaway.
Troopers were assisted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Township Fire & EMS, Weller Township Fire & EMS, the Richland County Coroner’s Office and Ronk’s Towing.
The crash remains under investigation, according to the patrol.
