Saturday’s observance of National Move Over Day took on significantly added poignance in the Mahoning Valley and Ohio coming as it did only two days after a highly respected Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper from the Canfield Post lost his life in a disturbing crash along the side of state Route 11.

On Thursday just before noon, OSHP Trooper Nicholas Cayton, 40, responded to state Route 11 northbound in Canfield to assist a disabled semi tractor-trailer in the right lane after the driver had struck an item on the roadway.

According to the OSHP, Cayton was sitting in his cruiser with its emergency overhead lights activated when a truck crashed into the back of his cruiser. The impact forced the trooper’s cruiser into the back of the disabled tractor-trailer, also striking its driver who was standing outside of the vehicle.

Cayton was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver of the disabled vehicle was life-flighted to a hospital for his injuries.

In the tragic aftermath of that horrific crash, we join countless others in sending our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Cayton as well as to his tight-knit corps of fellow OSHP troopers throughout the state.

We also commend the organizers of several pop-up benefits for the Cayton family over the weekend, including one well attended concert at White House Fruit Farm in Canfield on Saturday in which musician Chase Welch performed and donated all proceeds to the family. Welch also works as an Ohio Department of Transportation employee who spent nine hours on the scene of the tragedy Thursday.

The outpouring of grief and support for Cayton’s loved ones also will play out 1 p.m. Wednesday when a communitywide celebration of his life will take place at Beeghly Center at Youngstown State University. Given our Valley’s caring and supportive demeanor, we expect a full house.

The tragedy also must serve as a cogent reminder of the importance of obeying this state’s Move Over, Slow Down law .

That undervalued and overly disobeyed law requires drivers to move into another lane and slow down for any stationary vehicle with flashing lights on the side of the road. The law applies to vehicles with flashing lights of any color, including law enforcement officers, emergency responders, road construction workers, maintenance vehicles, utility crews and tow trucks.

Sadly, despite increased awareness campaigns, accidents and fatalities in such highway work and emergency zones have taken a decidedly upward turn in recent years.

According to the OSHP database, more than 3,200 work zone crashes have taken place in the state this year through Oct. 14, with a 33% increase in fatalities over 2024. Among those are 17 fatal crashes and an additional 79 crashes where serious injuries resulted. In one two-hour monitoring period of a work zone on U.S. Route 20 in Elyria last week, 21 motorists were cited for violations of Ohio’s Move Over law

Clearly, the stakes are high in preventing serious injury or death to law enforcers and construction workers responsibly plying their trades on the sides of highways. That’s why all motorists should follow these driving tips from the state patrol:

�–� Don’t speed. Obey reduced speed limits in work zones. It takes less than a minute to drive through a 2-mile work zone at 45 mph than at 65 mph. One of the most common causes of crashes in work or emergency zones is excessive speed.

�–� Don’t tailgate. Most accidents in such zones are rear-end collisions.

�–� Stay alert. Put down cellphones and dedicate full attention to the roadway. The traffic pattern in a work zone may be shifted, and lanes may be closed. Distracted driving is monitored much more aggressively these days and will sock violators with hefty fines and harsh penalties.

Committing ourselves to driving slowly, safely and responsibly through such work and emergency zones perhaps would serve as the most appropriate tribute all motorists in the Valley and the state can play moving forward to honor the life and legacy of loyal public service of Nicholas Cayton.