Cincinnati Police would not say where the chase began but said officers from Districts 1 and 3 were chasing a man through Cincinnati until the man fled into Northern Kentucky. Officers from several Northern Kentucky departments picked up the pursuit but the man weaved his way back into Ohio, where Cincinnati officers resumed the chase that eventually ended on Eastern Avenue.
The fatal crash happened at about 7 p.m. just after the man crossed back into Ohio. A cruiser that was among several trying to stop the suspect collided with another car on Produce Drive at the intersection of Central Avenue.
Night Chief Robert Biddle said two passengers were injured - an 18-year-old woman was in critical condition at University Hospital and a 16-year-old was in serious condition at Children's Hospital Medical Center.
The District 3 officer involved in the accident, who was not identified, was not hurt seriously and was assisting in the investigation, Capt. Biddle said.
Fire rescue personnel had to cut open the top of the car to free an injured passenger, said Trent Fasnacht, 29, a night watchman at Gentile Brothers Co. on Produce Way, located just east of the crash.
"I heard sirens. I heard tires squeal," he said.
A victim is removed from a car struck by a police cruiser.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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When he ran outside, he saw the driver "sitting motionless with his arm hanging out the window," Mr. Fasnacht said.
The body of the male victim was still in the wrecked automobile when Hamilton County Coroner Carl L. Parrott Jr. arrived at the accident scene about 9:25 p.m.
Ken Castellini, 19, who fuels trucks for Truckway Rental and Leasing, heard the crash and ran outside.
"I could hear sirens in the distance, then I heard a bang," he said.
By the time he got outside, he saw the police officer had already gotten out of his wrecked cruiser, which had front-end damage. Other officers continued the chase, which wound through downtown streets. The suspect struck two vehicles at Fourth and Race streets, but no one was injured, Capt. Biddle said.
The car that led police on a high-speed chase sits on Eastern Avenue after the driver was taken into custody.
(Kevin J. Miyazaki photo)
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Police eventually apprehended the man after he bailed from his car in the 1500 block of Eastern Avenue.
Capt. Biddle said Sunday night the man had not been charged "at this point." Any charges would come after "a very detailed" investigation of the incident, he said.
Safety Director Kent Ryan was also at the scene.
The officer involved in the fatal crash has been placed on administrative leave, as is routine procedure in such incidents, Capt. Biddle said.
Asked about Cincinnati Police Division procedures for vehicle pursuits, Capt. Biddle said, "The normal procedures are 12 pages long," but declined to detail them.
