CLEVELAND, Ohio – An innocent bystander was killed early Thursday after suspects in a stolen car fled from Euclid police and crashed following a brief chase, authorities said.
Maurice Neil Ford, 54, of Cleveland was struck near St. Clair Avenue and Nottingham Road, according to a report from the office of the Cuyahoga County medical examiner.
Euclid police called the incident “a pointless and preventable tragedy.”
“This senseless loss of precious human life is yet another example of the extreme toll of lawless behavior in an otherwise law-abiding society,” Euclid police said in a statement.
The collision occurred less than a minute after the suspects began fleeing from police around midnight.
Euclid police officers had responded to reports of nearly 30 gunshots fired in Cleveland near St. Clair Avenue and East 197th Street. A 911 caller reported that a vehicle, possibly connected to the shooting, had fled the scene, police said.
Officers began patrolling the Euclid-Cleveland border area and located a stolen Jeep SUV in the parking lot of a sports bar at 21702 St. Clair Ave.
Traffic cameras showed the SUV had been in the area before the gunshots were reported, and officers saw a driver and at least one passenger inside the stolen vehicle.
As police cruisers approached the SUV in the parking lot, the suspect sped off westbound on St. Clair. Euclid officers activated their lights and sirens but were unable to catch up to the fleeing SUV.
The stolen vehicle then crashed into a Chevrolet Malibu, driven by Ford. Euclid officers provided aid to Ford before Cleveland EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.
The driver of the stolen SUV ran but was arrested by Euclid officers. He was later transported to the Cuyahoga County Jail. Officers did not release the names of the suspect or the people in his SUV or what charges they may face in connection with the incident.
Cleveland police detectives are investigating the fatal crash, while Euclid police examine the pursuit.