Man eludes police by jumping into river

A West Toledo man, who was involved in a hit-skip accident, eluded police early yesterday morning by jumping into the Maumee River in the Lotus Avenue-Balfe Street area of South Toledo, authorities said.

The man, identified by police as Rex Long of Custer Drive, was being pursued on foot by officers after his vehicle struck a utility pole at Broadway and Balfe just after 3 a.m. Mr. Long refused an officer's order to stop and jumped into the river.

Police and fire crews from Toledo and Rossford, the U.S. Coast Guard, and a Life Flight helicopter assisted in the search, but were unable to find him. Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Hiatt speculated that he could have headed for Corbutt Island, or swum ashore elsewhere.

Toledo Fire Department divers, who had a scheduled practice yesterday, dove near Lotus and Thomas streets about 1 p.m., but found nothing, Battalion Fire Chief Luis Santiago said.