Grand jury to hear case of Ohio 2 high-speed chase, crash
PORT CLINTON - The case involving Monday's high-speed chase on Ohio 2 that ended with a car crashing into a culvert and the driver being injured will be going to the Ottawa County Grand Jury.
Daniel Kasper, of Cleveland, was transported by EMS to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo on Monday after the blue Toyota Prius he was driving west on Ohio 2 at speeds up to 114 mph crashed while deputies and other law officers were in pursuit, according to the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.
When Kasper slowed to make a southbound turn off Ohio 2 onto Benton Carroll Road, the Prius became airborne and crashed into a water-filled concrete culvert, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
No details were available on Kasper's condition Thursday from St. Vincent, and the suspect is not listed on the Ottawa County Jail roster.
Prius reportedly was going 78 in 55 mph zone
Ottawa County Sheriff's Sergeant Brandon Amory, in a report, said he was stationary and monitoring traffic on Ohio 2 at 1:43 p.m. Jan. 2 when the Prius passed him at 78 miles per hour in a 55 mph zone. Once he began following the car, with lights and siren activated, the suspect speeded up, exceeding 100 mph and at one point exceeding 114 mph.
Amory reported the Prius did not have a rear license plate and was passing numerous westbound vehicles on Ohio 2 as they neared the Energy Harbor Power plant. At the Ohio 19 intersection, a Carroll Township Officer was waiting to deploy stop sticks.
The Prius driver saw the stop sticks being deployed and swerved into the eastbound lane, nearly sideswiping another vehicle. As the deputy and Prius neared Benton Carroll road, another Ottawa County Deputy attempted to deploy stop sticks again and the suspect car swerved and avoided them, according to the report.
As the Prius slowed to turn south onto Benton Carroll Road, still at an excessive rate of speed, the driver lost control and the car went off the left side of the highway, went airborne and hit the concrete culvert, Amory reported.
Sergeant jumped into water with gun drawn
Amory reported he left his vehicle, jumped into the standing water, and approached the Prius with his gun drawn. He found one person in the vehicle. EMS arrived and a medical evaluation of the driver showed the suspect had two broken ankles, facial lacerations and stomach bruising and that he would require surgery, according to Amory's report.
When the sergeant asked Kasper why he had fled, Kasper "stated that he was 'stupid,'" according to Amory's report. Amory added that he conducted a background check on Kasper that came back with no criminal record.
Amory also noted the vehicle had heavy damage, and that assorted denominations of money was floating on top of the water in the ditch. The car was pulled from the water and searched where officers found a loaded black handgun, 35 prepackaged vape cartridges, a marijuana package, a digital scale and nearly $2,000 in cash. Deputies also located a spent 9mm cartridge.
rbrooks@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Grand jury to hear case of high-speed chase, crash
