Columbus Dispatch A Delaware County Sheriff's Deputy was injured in a crash that closed an on-ramp to Interstate 71 north of Columbus. Delaware County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Tracy Whited said the deputy was outside his cruiser taking a report for a separate crash when he was struck by a vehicle at about 3:45 a.m. The deputy was transported to a local hospital. The sheriff's office said the deputy was a 27-year-old man who had worked for the department for five years. As of Thursday afternoon, the deputy remained in the hospital with injuries that were serious but not life threatening. All lanes of the ramp from US-38 to I-71 south were closed due to the crash, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation, but reopened later Thursday morning. A semi-truck was involved in the initial crash, and blocked lanes. At 7 a.m., traffic on southbound I-71 approaching the crash site was delayed by 21 minutes, according to an Ohio Department of Transportation live traffic map.