Kent State student riding scooter dies after hit-skip crash

Courtesy of the Ohio State Highway Patrol

A photo from the scene of a fatal crash that killed Kent State student Colin Pho on Summit Street near Dix Stadium. It shows a broken car mirror and part of the scooter Pho was riding when he was struck from behind August 22 around 9 p.m.

Alton Northup, Staff Reporter
August 23, 2022

Colin Pho, a 22-year-old junior at Kent State majoring in computer science, was killed after being struck from behind while riding an electric scooter eastbound on Summit Street near Dix Stadium. The Ravenna Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, which occurred around 9:30 p.m. Monday near the intersection with state Route 261 in Franklin Township. The driver fled the scene, according to a Highway Patrol press release.

The scene of the hit-skip, on Summit Street near Dix Stadium, on Tuesday evening. (Alexandria Manthey)

Pho was transported to University Hospital Portage Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, police said. He was then life-flighted to UH Cleveland Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The driver of the car is unknown at this time, although the Highway Patrol provided a description of a “white, silver or light-colored 2006-2010 model Dodge Charger, Dodge Magnum, or Chrysler 300 that is missing its driver’s side mirror.” The vehicle may also have damage to its left front area and windshield.

The university released this statement Tuesday afternoon:

“We are deeply saddened to learn about the death of Colin Pho. An Ashtabula native, Colin was a junior at Kent State University majoring in computer science with a concentration in game programming. He received his Associate of Science degree from Kent State in May 2022 and was registered for fall 2022 classes to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The Kent State community sends its thoughts and prayers to Colin’s family, friends and all who knew and loved him.”

According to Eric Mansfield, assistant vice president of university communications and marketing, the scooter was a personal scooter, not one of the campus SPIN scooters. Based on a photograph provided by the Highway Patrol from the accident scene, it does not appear to be, since SPIN scooters have orange handle posts and frames, while the scooter involved in the accident has a black post.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ravenna Post at (330) 297-1441.

KentWired will continue to follow and update this story.

Alton Northup is a staff reporter. Contact him at [email protected].