Driver rams and shoots ex-girlfriend, then kills self

8/28/2007

SANDUSKY - An Erie County man who encountered his former girlfriend as each was driving on U.S. 250 yesterday shot her, rammed her car with his pickup, which went into a ditch, then shot himself in the head in front of a sheriff's deputy, Perkins Township police said.

Daniel R. Summers, 41, was pronounced dead, and Jennifer M. Warren, 44, was treated at Firelands Regional Medical Center, Sandusky, police Lt. Al Matthews said.

Ms. Warren was northbound on U.S. 250 in front of the Kalahari water park about 8:20 a.m. when Mr. Summers fired at her from his truck. She drove away and Mr. Summers followed her, ramming her vehicle five times, police said. After his truck went into the ditch, Mr. Summers stepped out and fired at Ms. Warren again, the lieutenant said.

She drove about a quarter mile to the police station, where she told officers she thought she might have been shot and they discovered a wound in her back.

Meanwhile, a police dispatcher received calls of the pickup crash. A responding deputy found Mr. Summers carrying a gun as he walked south along U.S. 250 at State Rt. 2. Mr. Summers refused to acknowledge the deputy and shot himself in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn, the lieutenant said.