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CLEVELAND (WJW) – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a crash in Cleveland after a high-speed pursuit on several Northeast Ohio interstates.
The pursuit came to a sudden stop just feet from a stretch of homes with a long history of being hit by cars speeding off the exit ramp on West Boulevard in Cleveland.
Residents along West Boulevard said they were awakened by screeching tires and a loud bang. The crash happened just feet from their homes after a chase that began on Interstate 71 North in Medina County, continued to West 130th Street through Cleveland, and then onto Interstate 90 East.
Troopers said the 20-minute chase reached speeds topping 100 miles per hour. It ended when the suspect tried to exit I-90 at West Boulevard, clipping higher curbs and medians recently added by the Ohio Department of Transportation.
“What we did was add a splitter island, or a raised concrete island, on the exit ramp 90 East to West Boulevard,” ODOT District 12 Public Information Officer Brent Kovacs said. “That’s in the shape of a triangle, and it basically forces motorists to go left or right instead of going straight through the intersection.”
Kovacs said a median was also added along West Boulevard in 2023. Residents said they are grateful.
“Before we had the work done where they put those little barriers there, there were constantly, constantly running out, accidents. We had a couple of direct hits to the house,” 25-year resident Mildred Santana said.
Santana said she and her husband can finally sleep easier at night.
“They finally did something and we’re so thankful,” she said. “Because it has helped.”
ODOT said more improvements are planned at the exit.
“It’s kind of a steep downhill grade,” Kovacs said. “We’re going to lessen that downhill grade and flatten it out a little bit. So it’ll be easier for motorists to come to a stop.”
Troopers said one suspect ran from the scene and got away, but five others were caught. They said alcohol was found in the rental SUV.
The investigation continues.
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Tino Bovenzi
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