A late-night crash on a Stark County back road turned deadly Tuesday when a 36-year-old East Canton man was thrown into a violent rollover that ended with his SUV wrapped around a utility pole.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says the driver, identified as Michael E. Bailey of East Canton, was behind the wheel of a 2020 white Ford Explorer when the SUV left Berger Street NE in Osnaburg Township, struck a utility pole and rolled several times. The single-vehicle crash was reported around 10 p.m., according to WKYC.
Emergency crews rushed Bailey from the scene to Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Troopers shut down the roadway while they worked the scene and cleared debris.
Crash details
The wreck happened on Berger Street NE just north of Orchardview Drive SE in Osnaburg Township. Canton post troopers say the Explorer hit a utility pole, then overturned multiple times before coming to rest. First responders secured the mangled vehicle and the area around the downed pole while investigators documented the crash.
According to the patrol, alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash. No other vehicles were involved.
Investigation and local context
Troopers say the crash remains under investigation and that they are still working to determine whether any charges will be filed in connection with the incident. For now, they are not releasing additional details about exactly how and why the SUV left the roadway.
The tragedy lands in a county that has been wrestling with impaired driving for years. In 2020, about 51% of Stark County traffic deaths involved alcohol or drugs, a figure officials often cite when organizing OVI checkpoints, according to News 5 Cleveland.
Troopers say they will release more information on the Berger Street crash as it becomes available. At this time, no charges have been announced and the investigation is ongoing, according to WKYC. Our thoughts are with Bailey's family and friends as the community waits for answers.
