Car fleeing officer leads to 2 crashes

12/6/2000

A Toledo man fled a traffic stop yesterday, driving off-road along some railroad tracks and colliding with a sport-utility vehicle while trying to re-enter the road in the 4100 block of Monroe Street, police said.

A second, two-vehicle accident occurred when a driver tried to avoid the first collision.

Christopher A. Zielinski, 19, of 3130 Lambert Dr., was stopped by police about 7:40 a.m. after he allegedly ran a red light at Kenwood Boulevard and Douglas Road. He pulled into a parking lot at 2950 Douglas, but then drove away as Officer Ed Petersen was writing a traffic citation, police said.

Mr. Zielinski drove through the lot, into the grassy area, and continued traveling parallel to the railroad tracks along Douglas, heading north. He crossed Central Avenue and tried to turn right onto Monroe. But his station wagon hit an eastbound vehicle driven by Sandra L. Staebler, 38, of 4104 Drummond Rd. Her vehicle crossed three lanes of traffic before stopping, Officer Petersen said.

Both drivers were treated in Toledo Hospital.

The other accident occurred when Marsha Clein, 47, of 2805 Rathbun Dr., saw police chasing Mr. Zielinski's vehicle. She pulled her westbound van into the curb lane of Monroe, where it was hit from behind by a car driven by Alonzo Carpenter, 24, of 1239 Moore St.

Neither driver was hurt. Mr. Carpenter was cited for not having a driver's license and for failure to control his vehicle, Officer Dave McClellan said. Charges against Mr. Zielinski are pending, police said.