An early-morning single-vehicle crash on Broadway Avenue in Maple Heights left two people dead and a third seriously injured on Wednesday after a car struck a pole and trapped all three people inside, officials said.
Police said the wreck happened about 1:30 a.m. in the 17000 block of Broadway Avenue near Lee Road. First responders used specialized tools to extricate the occupants from the heavily damaged vehicle. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and the third was flown by Life Flight to Metro Hospital with serious injuries. Authorities are withholding the victims' identities until family members can be notified.
Crash Details
According to Cleveland.com, a caller reported that a vehicle with three people inside had slammed into a pole on Broadway near Lee Road. Officers arrived to find all three occupants trapped in the wreckage, and the Maple Heights Fire Department, with help from nearby agencies, used hydraulic rescue tools to free them.
Cleveland.com reported that one person was flown to Metro Hospital by Life Flight, while the other two were pronounced dead at the scene. Crews then secured the area while investigators processed the wreckage and collected evidence.
Investigation and Witness Appeal
As reported by Cleveland.com, the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Accident Investigation Unit and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office are assisting with the probe, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Police said they are not releasing the victims' names until relatives have been notified.
Investigators are asking residents and motorists to review any security or dash-cam footage that might show the vehicle in the moments before the collision.
Broadway Avenue Safety Concerns
Broadway Avenue and nearby corridors have been the site of several serious crashes in recent years, underscoring ongoing safety concerns along the busy route. Cleveland 19 previously reported on another deadly collision that shut the road for hours and required mechanical extrication. Local officials and safety advocates have pointed to speed and roadway conditions as recurring issues in crashes across the Heights communities.
How to Help Investigators
Anyone with information about Wednesday's crash is asked to call the Maple Heights Detective Bureau at 216-587-9624 or share tips with Crime Stoppers of Cuyahoga County at 216-252-7463, according to News 5 Cleveland. Police said they will release further details as identifications are confirmed and the investigation moves forward.
