FREMONT ― Police investigations continue into a 14-mile high-speed vehicle chase July 10 from Port Clinton to Fremont that resulted in a head-on collision and three people hospitalized.
A Port Clinton police sergeant attempted to stop a red 2014 Hyundai Elantra after a city license plate recognition device flagged the 30-year-old female owner, from Dundee, Ohio, on July 10 at about 3 p.m. The vehicle fled and a pursuit at high speeds ensued, according to the Ohio Highway Patrol report.
“When it got onto U.S. 20, it got up to 80 or 90 (miles per hour). When it got around traffic, they slowed down and then sped up. I guess you could consider it high-speed,” Port Clinton Police Chief David Scott said in an interview.
“We have those Flock Safety cameras, they read the license plates,” Scott said. “If the registered owner of a car has a warrant, they give us automatic report as soon as a vehicle passes it.”
The driver of the Hyundai was a 30-year-old male, from Painesville, Ohio, and the vehicle’s owner was in the passenger seat, according to police reports.
“The vehicle was parked in the NAPA Auto Parts parking lot,” Scott said. “They jumped into the car and they took off from our officers.”
Scott said both the driver and passenger had outstanding warrants from outside Ottawa County.
The pursuit moved over Ohio 53 to the Fremont city limits, with additional law enforcement joining the pursuit from the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Highway Patrol and Fremont Police Department. Before the vehicle arrived at the Fremont city limits, deputies from the Sandusky County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Fremont officers, unsuccessfully attempted to stop the vehicle with stop spikes, according to the Fremont Police report and Scott.
As the Hyundai turned left off southbound Ohio 53, it entered eastbound onto the westbound U.S. 20 exit ramp, into oncoming traffic. That resulted in a head-on collision with a black 2005 GMC Envoy. That section of U.S. 6 is locally known as the Fremont Bypass.
The driver of the Hyundai fled on foot and was apprehended by Port Clinton officers.
A Fremont police officer was first on the scene, called for EMS support, and observed smoke from the Elantra.
The Fremont police report states that “I observed a female in the passenger seat who was severely injured and screaming in pain and I also realized that male, whom was the driver of the dark colored SUV, that was also possibly injured.” The officer extracted the female, due to the possibility of a fire.
An off-duty EMT arrived and performed initial emergency triage. Both occupants of the car were taken to St. Vincent’s Medical Center by ambulance. The medical center declined to provide information, citing privacy laws.
“They got pretty banged up,” Scott said.
After removal from the Hyundai, the female passenger passed out on the curb. The Highway Patrol report states the she was placed in a medically induced coma and listed in critical condition. She was expected to stay in that condition for at least four to five days after the crash.
The Hyundai driver was reported to have a broken pelvis, put in intensive care and was expected to have surgery within a week of the crash.
Scott indicated to the Highway Patrol that multiple substances suspected to be drugs were found in the Hyundai, with syringes, and were seized by the Port Clinton Police Department.
The driver of the SUV was taken to Fremont Promedica Hospital. Scott said the man was released with minor injuries. The Highway Patrol report states that he had non-life threatening injuries to both knees and his left wrist.
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