AKRON, Ohio — Newly released footage obtained by News 5 from the Ohio Department of Transportation shows a wrong-way vehicle traveling on Route 8 just before it crashed into a semi, killing the wrong-way driver Tuesday morning.
The man driving the vehicle was allegedly wanted for robbery in Cleveland. He was killed in a wrong-way crash after leading Akron police on a brief chase through city streets and onto Route 8.
It all started when police responded to the 200 block of Cole Avenue for a domestic dispute where a woman told dispatch that a man stole her minivan and two guns.
While checking the area nearby, officers spotted the vehicle traveling on Bellows Avenue. A traffic stop was initiated, but the vehicle failed to stop, so officers started a pursuit at 4:08 a.m.
Approximately 8 minutes later, the vehicle traveled east in the westbound lane of US 224 from Manchester Road.
Police said they continued to follow the car to alert any oncoming traffic in the area of the wrong-way driver.
The pursuit continued north onto Route 8 in the southbound lane. Police said they stopped the pursuit at 4:19 a.m. at East Wilbeth Road.
At around 4:22 a.m., the vehicle struck a semi-truck near Glenwood Avenue.
State troopers responded to the scene and the driver of the minivan was pronounced dead.
