CANFIELD, Ohio — Tragedy struck Thursday morning when Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Nicholas P. Cayton, 40, was killed while responding to a disabled semi-truck on state Route 11 in Mahoning County.
The incident occurred around 11:52 a.m. near the northbound right lane just south of U.S. 224. Trooper Cayton had arrived to assist a 2024 Kenworth semi-truck, driven by 65-year-old Nelson De Jesus Herrera Vasquez of Florida, which had struck debris in the roadway and pulled over.
While Trooper Cayton was seated in his marked cruiser with emergency lights activated, a northbound 2007 Mack Granite truck, driven by 35-year-old Ryan Rach of Canfield, collided with the rear of Cayton’s vehicle. The force of the impact pushed the cruiser into the back of the semi, striking Vasquez, who was outside at the time.
Trooper Cayton was pronounced dead at the scene. Vasquez was airlifted to a nearby hospital with injuries, while Rach was unharmed. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost expressed his condolences, saying, “In service and sacrifice, Trooper Cayton honored the badge and fulfilled his sacred oath to the community. My deepest condolences are with the family, friends, and colleagues of this fallen hero.”
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Canfield, Boardman Township, and Ellsworth fire departments; Canfield Police; Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office; Ohio EPA; and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the collision. Trooper Cayton’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face daily while serving and protecting their communities.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.