Zanesville Man Killed in Single-Vehicle Crash on Tunnel Hill Road

A 52-year-old Zanesville man died after his truck left the right side of Tunnel Hill Road and struck a culvert and a tree in Pike Township, Perry County, the Ohio State Highway Patrol Lancaster post said. The victim was identified as Larry Dennis of Zanesville.

“Investigators say Larry Dennis, 52 of Zanesville, was driving westbound on Tunnel Hill Road when his truck drove off the right side of the road, hitting a culvert and tree.” Dennis was taken to Genesis Hospital in Somerset and died there. “Dennis was transported to Genesis Hospital in Somerset by New Lexington EMS personnel where he was pronounced deceased,” one account said.

The crash occurred near Township Road 487 on a rural stretch of Tunnel Hill Road. WHIZ reported the accident happened just before 5:00 PM Monday and identified the vehicle as a 2024 Ford F-450; the Ohio State Highway Patrol has been identified as the primary investigating agency. The Lancaster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the investigation, and officials have said the crash remains under investigation.

Local emergency services responded to the scene. WHIZ listed assisting agencies as the Perry County Sheriff’s Office, New Lexington Fire and EMS, the Perry County Engineer’s Office and Tanners Towing. New Lexington EMS personnel transported Dennis to Genesis Hospital in Somerset. Authorities have not released information on contributing factors such as weather, driver condition, or mechanical problems, and no charges or citations have been reported.

For Perry County residents and regular users of Tunnel Hill Road, the crash is a reminder of risks on narrow, winding rural roads where culverts, ditches and roadside trees are common hazards. Emergency response times and the coordination of local agencies were central to getting Dennis to a hospital, but those efforts were not enough to save him.

Investigators will determine the sequence of events leading to the truck leaving the roadway and whether speed, road conditions, vehicle factors or a medical event played a role. The Lancaster Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is expected to release a formal crash report and additional details as the probe continues.

What comes next for readers is both practical and procedural: expect possible temporary traffic disruptions near Tunnel Hill Road during follow-up work by county crews, and watch for an official OSHP report that may clarify time, vehicle identification and cause. Families seeking more details should contact the Ohio State Highway Patrol Lancaster post or the Perry County coroner once those offices make information available.