UPDATE Nov. 25 5:25 p.m.
Bill Allman, one of the two men struck Monday night by a car while at a crash scene has died.
Officials with Grant Medical Center confirm he passed away Wednesday afternoon.
Bill was the owner of Allman Complete Auto and Truck Center in Lancaster.
Original Story
A local businessman remains in critical condition, after he and a Fairfield County Sheriff's Deputy were hit by a car at a crash scene.
It happened Monday night on Route 33 in Fairfield County.
Deputy Lyle Campbell was investigating a three-car crash when another driver ran into him and Bill Allman, one of the drivers involved in the crash.
Campbell is expected to be OK, but Bill Allman’s family says his outlook is less certain.
It began as a minor, non-injury crash. The only damage to Bill Allman's truck was a crunched bumper.
"He called me and said, ‘They hit my truck, I wrecked my truck. You need to bring me my pry bar,’" his wife Loretta Allman said.
Loretta says she did as he asked, and drove to the scene of the accident. What she saw was nothing to be concerned about.
"We were ready to head home, and I told him, ‘Well if everything's done I'm going to head home.’ And he says, ‘Okay,’ and he gave me a hug and a kiss and said ‘I'll be right behind you.’"
When he didn't show up at the house, she began calling his phone. There was no answer.
"And I heard a car door shut, which I thought was him, and it was two Sheriffs at my door saying there's been an accident. I said, ‘I know there's been an accident I just came from there.’ And they were like, ‘No, there's been another accident.’"
Another driver had hit her husband and Fairfield County Sheriff's Deputy Lyle Campbell.
Campbell's leg was broken in three places. Allman's injuries are much more severe.
"He's critically injured,” Loretta said. “He has massive head injuries."
Tuesday from the hospital where he lies in intensive care, his family spoke with pride about the man they love.
"He's big-hearted and generous and loving and caring,” Loretta said.
10TV viewers have seen that generosity. Last week we were there when Allman's business, Allman Complete Auto and Truck Center in Lancaster, surprised a veteran with a new truck.
"That's what we do, to help give back and be a part of the community,” Bill’s step-daughter Lacey Dawes said.
On a day when you might expect them to close, Dawes is keeping her family’s business running.
"We're not going to close down,” she said. “We're not going to take a day off. He wouldn't want us to. We've got a lot of cars, a lot of promises to keep to people."
Bill's family says his doctors are making no promises.
"No daughter ever wants to see her father that way,” said his daughter Rachel Carpenter. “Nor should they have to. And to explain to his grandchildren what's happening to him is something no mother should have to tell their children."
"He's bumped and bruised and he looks like he could come out of this,” said his wife. “And if I know him like I'm pretty sure I do, he'll come out of it. But it's all up to him. He's just got to fight."
Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen says Deputy Campbell is a seven-year veteran of his department, who has received many compliments from citizens about the quality of his work.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says the driver who hit Allman and Campbell is a 68 year old Texas man.
The Patrol says it's too early in the investigation to say what went wrong, or whether that driver will face charges.