Two people are dead after a wrong-way driver hit another car on Interstate 71.
The crash involving a SUV and small car happened at about 3 a.m. near West 140th Street, closing the right three lanes.
Police said a Chevy Cobalt, driven by 22-year-old Kenneth Urbanek of Lakewood, was going the wrong way on I-71 when he crashed into a Chevy Suburban, driven by 33-year-old Lakesha Brown, a mother of one who was a nurse assistant.
"I can't believe she is gone," said Careese Moore. Moore said Brown, her best friend, was on her way home when the crash happened. "A lot of people will miss her because a lot of people loved her," added Moore.
Video from ODOT of the incident up to the accident can be viewed in the player above. The actual crash can not be seen in the video.
Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene. A source close to the investigation believes Urbanek could have been traveling the wrong way on the highway for two miles or more. "There's toxicology reports pending. There 's some evidence of alcohol or drug use," said Cleveland Police Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia.
Tow trucks took away the mangled vehicles around 4:45 a.m. The lanes reopened about an hour later.
Police believed Urbanek was traveling at a fast speed. "The indication at the scene is there wasn't any breaking," added Ciaccia.
