Pedestrian struck by vehicle in Price Hill identified

CINCINNATI - A volunteer for a Price Hill pantry who came to help feed needy families was rescued by pantry clients Wednesday morning when a van he was unloading rolled back on top of him.

A van struck James Graham, 76, near the intersection of McPherson Avenue and Van Vey Street at about 10:30 a.m.

Graham was unloading the van with food for the Manna Outreach food pantry when the van started to back down a hill on Van Vey Street and it rolled over him.

Pantry president Hank Knopf had been driving the van with Graham as a passenger. Knopf tells 9 News, the van started to roll back. He put it into park and then was called into the pantry to help distribute food.

Graham then started to unload the van from the back, when it appears to have slipped out of gear and starting backing up. Graham tried to stop the van, but got pulled under it with one of its tires going over him.

A unidentified group of clients and neighborhood residents got together and lifted the van enough to pull Graham out from underneath it.

Officials said Graham is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries at the University Hospital.

Cincinnati Police continue to investigate the incident and are asking any witnesses to come forward and assist with the investigation.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for updates as they become available.
 

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