Former Channel 19 reporter dies after being struck by a vehicle in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, Ohio (WOIO) - Former Channel 19 Reporter Bill Safos died from his injuries after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday evening.

The accident happened around 6:10 p.m. at Madison Avenue near Orchard Grove Avenue.

Lakewood Police Captain William Albrecht said Safos, 58, was attempting to cross Madison Avenue from north to south and was not in a crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound.

Officers located Safos in the roadway and he was transported to Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The driver remained on the scene and interviewed with police officers.

According to Captain Albrecht, the vehicle was towed and the driver was released from the scene.

The incident remains under investigation.

Safos, a Greek immigrant, grew up in Lakewood and had previously said he wouldn’t be where he was without his parents and the teachers in the Lakewood City School District.

He credited his kindergarten teacher with teaching him to speak English.

Safos earned his Bachelor’s of Journalism at The Ohio State University and his first reporting job was in our state capitol.

“Anyone who had the privilege to work with Bill could tell you what a warm and genuine person he was. He cared deeply for his family, his friends, and his community. Bill’s passion for people made him a great reporter and he was right in front on some of the biggest stories in Northeast Ohio. This is a difficult day for everyone who knew him. Our prayers are with his family,” said Channel 19 News Director Brian Sinclair.