I-Team: Cleveland firefighter drove 117 mph in city car

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CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found a Cleveland firefighter sped at over 100 mph in a city car.

The speed was recorded at up to 117 mph.

So, we investigated the story behind it.

We’ve already exposed other misuse of city cars.

We discovered why the firefighter drove at up to 117 mph, and we also discovered some mystery.

You expect firefighters to race to a call. But here, a Cleveland firefighter was barreling out of town for a training class.

We obtained the disciplinary paperwork for firefighter Antoine Crews.

“While driving a city vehicle … You were recorded to have traveled at a rate of up to 117 miles per hour,” it reads in part.

In a statement to the chief, Crews wrote he had been heading to Toledo with two other firefighters for a course on teaching the public about fire safety.

He wrote, “due to delays leaving out of Cleveland … I found myself pushing to make up time and grossly exceeded the speed limit,” he wrote, adding, “I truly apologize.”

Judy Converse spoke for the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, saying, “There is no excuse for extreme speeds.”

Lately, we’ve seen a growing number of cases of drivers caught speeding at more than 100 mph.

“So, we talk about the higher the speed, the higher the risk — the higher the risk of being involved in a crash,” Converse said.

The fire chief wouldn’t talk to the I-Team about this. A spokesman wouldn’t answer a question about how anyone knew the firefighter had hit 117 mph.

It happened in May. Yet, the firefighter’s driving record does not show any convictions for a  ticket since 2022.

“There has to be accountability on all this stuff that we’re seeing repeatedly,” city council Public Safety Chairman Mike Polensek said.

Months ago, the I-Team exposed a city official had crashed a city car while driving with kids on board. We also exposed another city employee with car seats in his city car.

Now, the punishment for a firefighter driving up to 117 miles an hour: simply a written warning.

“You’ve got to send a message: This cannot be tolerated. You have to set the tone. And if you’re not gonna set the tone, then stuff like this will continue,” Polensek added.

The I-Team has requested more records to find out more.

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Ed Gallek

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