Police Chase In Cleveland Ends In Tragedy, 2 Killed In Crash, 2 More Injured

Two people were killed, and two others were injured as the result of a police chase that led to a crash on state Route 176 in Cleveland on Saturday evening.

Cleveland police confirmed to 3News that officers from the Parma Police Department were pursuing a vehicle with three people in it when the chase continued into Cleveland on SR-176 north. Those three as well as a woman in another car were taken to the hospital following the crash, including 21-year-old Jibril M Allen of Chardon and 23-year-old Darnell James Prince of Burton, who have since died as a result of their injuries.

Parma authorities released more updates on Monday, saying an officer was parked at a gas station on Brookpark Road and State Road around 8:15 p.m. when he saw the gold Honda Accord speeding eastbound and attempting to turn left onto State Road, where it struck a blue Honda Accord and fled.

As the pursuit continued onto Interstate 480 and Route 176, the officer terminated the chase for a brief period and attempted to get back on the highway to make sure the car didn't crash before heading back to Parma. However, he eventually saw the vehicle engulfed in flames after striking a Kia Sportage near Spring Road.

Witnesses said the Honda was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes when it slammed head-on into the Kia. The two men who died were in the Honda, while a third person in that car was unable to walk. The 49-year-old driver of the Kia was breathing but also unable to move, and she was taken with the three others to MetroHealth Medical Center.

The crash caused a major shutdown of all northbound lanes and two southbound lanes for multiple hours after the incident. Videos were provided via a public records request from ODOT.

The matter remains under investigation, with a Glock 43 handgun also recovered from the Honda. This was the second pursuit in three days that began in Parma before ending with a fatal crash in Cleveland, being preceded by a collision Thursday in Old Brooklyn that left the fleeing suspect dead and an innocent bystander injured.