Body of missing Toledo man found in crashed vehicle

11/20/2017
BY ALLISON REAMER
BLADE STAFF WRITER
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    Toledo firefighters work at the scene of an accident at 15th and Indiana Avenue in Toledo, Ohio on November 20.

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    • The body of a missing West Toledo man was found Monday in a crashed vehicle in central Toledo, more than 24 hours after he was last seen leaving a downtown bar.

    Christopher Ryan, 26, of the 2700 block of Arletta Street was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Indiana Avenue near South 15th Street, according to Toledo police. He was reported missing to authorities prior to the crash. 

    Ryan’s vehicle was found lodged under the back of a construction crane. Investigators believe Ryan drove down the wrong side of the road and crashed into the equipment. The crash was reported just before 7 a.m., though police believe the crash happened sometime early Sunday, Toledo Police spokesman Sgt. Kevan Toney said.

    The spokesman said Ryan was the only person in the vehicle. 

    Ryan was last seen after midnight on Sunday at a bar in downtown Toledo. He was out with friends at a Toledo Walleye game and they later went to a bar for drinks, his girlfriend, Chloe Ellis, said. 

    The couple has a 2-year-old child, Jaxon. 

    “He had a great loving family. He was a family man,” Ms. Ellis said. 

    Ms. Ellis, who was out of town Sunday, said Ryan was last seen at the bar around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. His phone was dead, she said.

    Ryan’s brother reported him missing later that morning when the father did not pick up his son from a family member’s home, Ms. Ellis said. 

    Ms. Ellis said she knew Ryan was in danger.

    “It was out of character [for him,]” she said. 

    The family learned about the crash about 8 a.m. Monday. 

    Police are investigating factors of the crash. 

    Contact Allison Reamer at areamer@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonRBlade.