Single-car crash takes 1 life in South Toledo

2/29/2012
BLADE STAFF

The Lucas County Coroner's Office ruled Tuesday that a Toledo man involved in a one-car accident Monday night died of multiple blunt-force trauma.

Paul Gonzalez, 25, of Colburn Street, a passenger in the car, also suffered a broken neck, said Dr. James Patrick, county coroner. Mr. Gonzalez was pronounced dead at 10:48 p.m. at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital, said Steve Kahle, a county coroner's investigator.

The driver, Francisco Cortez, 21, of Valleywood Drive, and a second passenger, Christopher Rose, 22, also of Colburn Street, were taken to UTMC, where both were listed in fair condition Tuesday night, a hospital spokesman said.

The car was southbound in the 2900 block of Broadway at Harvard Boulevard near Walbridge Park shortly after 10 p.m. when the driver lost control and missed a turn, police say.

The car hit a light pole and split in half, with the front compartment landing in a water fountain in the intersection's roundabout.