A 27-year-old man who led police on a chase in a stolen vehicle Nov. 11 was arrested after an escape attempt ended in a crash that saw another motorist injured, Akron police Lt. Michael Murphy said in a statement.
Officers responded to the 1600 block of East Avenue for reports of a stolen vehicle at about 3:14 p.m., Murphy said. The car’s owner told police that he left his car running while he briefly entered the Circle K at 1608 East Avenue when the suspect stole his vehicle.
Police located the stolen vehicle shortly after as it was pulling into a parking lot in the 1300 block of Vernon Odom Boulevard, Murphy reported. As police attempted to make a traffic stop, the suspect did not comply and drove eastbound on Vernon Odom, prompting the officer to pursue him.
The suspect then ran a red light at the intersection of Vernon Odom Boulevard and Superior Avenue and struck another vehicle, which resulted in serious injuries for himself and the 42-year-old driver of the second vehicle, Murphy reported. They were both transported to a local hospital, Murphy said.
Akron police later learned the 27-year-old suspect had eight active warrants from multiple jurisdictions at the time of his arrest. The man was charged with theft of a motor vehicle in connection Tuesday’s incident, a fourth-degree felony.
He may be assessed additional charges, pending an investigation from the police department’s accident reconstruction team, Murphy noted.
Akron Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the incident.
Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@gannett.com, or on Twitter @athompsonABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police chase ends in crash; 2 hospitalized after stolen car runs red light Tuesday
Reporting by Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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