Crime & Safety

Suspect in High-Speed Chase, Crash is Charged

Teen accused of running from police in stolen car

 

The driver of a car that was involved in a fiery crash after a high-speed police chase April 11 has been charged.

Jacob Mellinger has been charged with willfully fleeing and eluding, willful/wanton disregard for public safety, driving without an operator’s license and receiving stolen property, according to Akron.com.

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More charges could be added. 

Fairlawn police said the incident started about 4:30 p.m. when a motorist reported an erratic driver on West Market Street. The caller followed the car into Rosemont Commons, then reported the vehicle exited eastbound onto West Market Street.

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Police determined from the license plate number that the car had been reported stolen from Akron.

Officers tried to stop the vehicle as it exited the shopping center, but the driver of the 1995 Ford SUV instead pulled into a business at 3610 West Market St., in Jefferson Park.

A passenger jumped out, and the vehicle fled through the lot and exited onto West Market.

Police pursued the vehicle for three blocks, then terminated the chase.

The vehicle continued east until the driver lost control and crashed into several vehicles parked at the Hilton Inn, 3150 West Market.

The stolen vehicle then struck a tree and overturned, hitting and breaking a utility pole.

The SUV immediately caught fire. Police officers broke out a window in the overturned vehicle and dragged out a female passenger. The male driveer was ejectd through the windshield and pulled from under the front of another vehicle.

The Fairlawn Fire Department extinguished the blaze and took both people to local hospitals.


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