Teen driver in crash admits he dozed off

2/20/2010

A Toledo teen who was hurt seriously early Friday morning when he lost control of his car and struck a parked minivan on Western Avenue in South Toledo said he fell asleep at the wheel, Toledo police reported.

Malik Smith, 17, of Pinebrook Parkway, the driver, was taken to University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital.

The hospital acknowledged he was a patient but did not release his condition.

His passenger, Quavon Peterson, 18, of Woodland Avenue, was taken to Toledo Hospital, where she was released after treatment, according to a hospital spokesman.

Police said the car was westbound on Western about 7:35 a.m. when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to strike a vehicle parked at 1566 Western.

The impact of the crash pushed the parked vehicle into the front yard of 1570 Western, where it came to rest against a concrete wall.

The police report listed the alleged offense by the driver as failure to control the vehicle.