Police pursuit ends with truck hitting tree, two injuries in Ottawa County
2/24/2013PORT CLINTON -- Two people were injured -- one of whom was flown to a Toledo hospital -- when their pickup truck hit a tree during a police pursuit through a city and two townships.
Ottawa County sheriff's deputies tried unsuccessfully to pull over the pickup driven by Wesley J. Miller, 48, of Port Clinton, in Portage Township. The pursuit continued into Port Clinton and was joined by city police at 4:03 p.m.
The pickup hit a bush as it drove into a gas station in the 1800 block of East Perry Street and then across a parking lot behind the station and through a yard, missing a house by a few feet, Port Clinton police said.
The pursuit continued east out of the city, onto Sand Road, and north on Catawba Road, where the pickup hit a concrete wall, police said. After nearly striking a patrol car, the pickup continued on West Catawba Road.
The pickup was southbound on West Catawba Road west of State Rt. 53 at 4:09 p.m. when it failed to negotiate a curve, troopers at the Sandusky post of the Ohio Highway Patrol said. The pickup drove off the right side of the road, hit a street sign, and then a tree.
Troopers said that both Miller and his passenger, Marilyn L. Miller, 60, of Port Clinton were taken to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton with incapacitating injuries. Miller was transferred by medical helicopter to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. He was listed in fair condition this morning.
Troopers said that charges related to the pursuit are pending from the sheriff's office and police department. Charges related to the crash are pending from the highway patrol.