Police Chase Ends With A Crash – And Downed Power Lines

TWINSBURG, OH — A Mentor man reportedly hit a police cruiser with his car, causing it to careen into a utility pole and downing power lines on Ravenna Road on early Tuesday morning, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

The Patrol said they tried to stop a car at about 3:10 a.m. on I-480, near Miles Road, for a lanes violation. Troopers ran a registration check on the vehicle and found the owner, Jason Zehe, 29, of Mentor, had an active felony warrant for his arrest.

Zehe allegedly refused to stop for police cruisers and led officers on a chase.

Local law enforcement set up tire deflation devices in multiple locations. Troopers then tried a rolling roadblock to stop the pursuit, but Zehe reportedly intentionally struck a Patrol cruiser. A trooper then hit Zehe's car, causing it go off road, onto the north side of Ravenna Road. The patrol cruiser hit a utility pole.

Zehe reportedly jumped out of his car and took off running, but troopers and local police were able to track him down and take him into custody.

The trooper that struck the utility pole suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Zehe was taken by EMS to the Cleveland Clinic in Twinsburg for evaluation. After he was treated, he was charged with operating a vehicle impaired and marked lanes, and was then taken to Lake County Jail.

The incident is still being investigated by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and additional charges are pending, an agency spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

Ravenna Road was closed for approximately three hours, but has since re-opened.

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