William A. Weathers
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OVER-THE-RHINE - A teen driver suspected of stealing a car from a Shell station at Calhoun Street and Ohio Avenue in Clifton Heights Monday night was killed after the vehicle crashed into a brick house on E. Clifton Avenue in Over-the Rhine while being pursued by police.

A 14-year-old passenger in the Honda Accord was taken to Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

An undercover officer in the Clifton area on the lookout about because of recent ATM robberies saw the two teens enter the car in the service station lot while the driver went inside, Sgt. John Wainscott said.

The driver "ran in and left it running,'' Sgt. Wainscott said.

The undercover officer called for a marked cruiser to try and stop the vehicle. The cruiser pursued the Honda on Calhoun Street, on W. Clifton Avenue, and less than a block across Vine Street until it crashed about 9:55 p.m., the sergeant said. The Honda was traveling a high rate of speed going up the E. Clifton Avenue Hill when the driver "lost control and struck the building at 35 E. Clifton Avenue, he said.

The driver was dead at the scene, Wainscott said.

Police found a 16-gauge shotgun under the driver's seat.