Displaying items by tag: route 8

A deadly wrong-way crash that left State Route 8 South closed near Glenwood Avenue for hours Tuesday morning started with a police chase. 

Akron Police are reporting that officers first responded to a domestic call in the 200 block of Cole Avenue just after 3:30 a.m. The female caller told police that a male acquaintance stole her minivan and two guns. After checking on the suspect, it was found that he had an active warrant for a robbery in Cleveland. 

Not long after responding to Cole Avenue, officers on patrol noticed the suspect in the stolen van along Bellows Avenue and tried to pull him over near Thornton Street and Amherst Street just after 4 a.m. The suspect did not stop and lead officers on a chase through the city, eventually heading eastbound in the westbound lanes of 224 from Manchester Road and then northbound onto the southbound lanes of Route 8. 

Officers called off the chase at this point for safety reasons just about 4:19 a.m. Minutes later, at 4:22 a.m., the suspect hit a semi truck near Glenwood Avenue on Route 8 South. When Akron Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Akron Fire and EMS arrived on the scene, the suspect was pronounced dead. 

The investigation into the crash is ongoing and the name of the suspect has not yet been released. 

Charges have been filed in connection to the deadly, fiery crash along Route 8 North in Akron back on the morning of August 25th. 

That morning of the 25th, just after 7:30 a.m. during rush hour traffic, a truck tire blew out along the northbound lanes of Route 8 just south of Cuyahoga Falls Avenue, leaving debris spread across all lanes of Route 8. In an effort to avoid the debris, 20-year-old Christopher Lonkart of Akron swerved across two lanes while hitting his brake. That's when he slammed into 18-year-old Jared Marcum's vehicle, forcing Marcum into a tanker truck. 

After colliding with the tanker truck, Marcum's vehicle was dragged for a short distance, causing friction and sparks, eventually leading to a fire and explosion. Marcum was trapped in his car under the tanker truck and died in the incident. 

On Wednesday, September 16th, charges of Vehicular Homicide, Vehicular Manslaughter, Failure to Control, and Assured Clear Distance were filed against Lonkart. 

See more details from Akron Police below: 

UPDATE: A few more details from Tuesday's massive pile-up on Route 8 in Hudson, as officials now say that 25 people were transported to nearby hospitals with varying injuries. Still none that were life-threatening.

Now, the estimated number of cars involved are more like 100, opposed to the 60 initially reported by the City of Hudson.

Reports are that 60 of those nearly 100 vehicles had to be towed, and that 41 are a total loss.

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Major pile-up along Route 8 North before Route 303 in Hudson started about 3 o'clock with a car that spun out, causing a chain reaction that involved more than 60 cars, according to a release from the city.

Roughly 12 people were taken to area hospitals with varying injuries, none too serious though. Emergency crews from more than 8 surrounding communities responded to the crash that left Route 8 North closed for nearly 4 hours.

The city is asking anyone whose car was towed to call the Hudson Police Department after 8 this morning for more information.

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(City of Hudson) While we do not have many details at this point, here is updated information on the crash on Rt. 8.

• The crash occurred around 3 pm this afternoon. Initial determination is that the incident was weather related due to icy road surfaces.
• More than 60 vehicles involved
• Approximately 12 individuals transported to area hospitals (exact number and who went where are not available at this time)
• None of the injuries appeared life-threatening.
• We anticipate SR 8 northbound to be open within the next ½ hour.
• We called in mutual aid from more than 8 surrounding jurisdictions to help with the incident.

You can help us by asking any individuals who where involved in the crash to come to the Hudson Police Department AFTER 8 a.m. tomorrow morning or call HPD at 330-342-1800 tomorrow to obtain information about the location of your vehicle and to provide HPD with your information.