CLEVELAND, OH. (THECOUNT) — Ohio woman, Ashley Martin, died in a Cleveland hospital Saturday from blunt force injuries sustained as a passenger in a vehicle that crashed while being pursued by police.
Martin, 25, was riding in a vehicle driven by suspect, Antonio Whitley, 30, when the vehicle crashed. Whitley was pronounced dead at the scene. A 17-year-old was also in the vehicle was transported to an area hospital.
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The pursuit reportedly started after the the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica failed to yield for a traffic stop initiated by Highway Patrol for a red light violation eastbound on St. Clair Avenue near East 93rd Street at 1:11 a.m.
According to Highway Patrol, the sergeant located the suspect vehicle just two minutes later against a utility pole near the intersection of St. Claire Avenue at East 124th Street. A crash investigation reveals the suspect vehicle reportedly struck the utility pole after traveling to the left of center of the north curb of St. Claire Avenue, over correcting, then traveling off the right side of the roadway. source
The suspect vehicle sustained the most severe damage on the area of the driver’s door with both the front and side air bags deployed, Highway Patrol says.
None of the suspect vehicle’s occupants were reportedly wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.
Ohio State Highway Patrol continues to investigate this crash, but believes alcohol has played a factor.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact police at 911.