A drive through a Barberton neighborhood ended in tragedy Thursday when a vehicle slammed into a utility pole near South Van Buren and Harold avenues, killing the driver and injuring two passengers, according to police. Emergency crews pronounced one person dead at the scene and took the two survivors to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities say they are still sorting out exactly what led up to the crash.
Responding officers found one person at the scene with an apparent gunshot wound, but have not yet determined whether that injury or the impact of the collision caused the death, Cleveland.com reported. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been called in to help Barberton police, and officials have not released the names of those involved as the probe continues.
Police Ask for Tips
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash, or who might have information about what happened before or after it, to come forward. The Barberton Police Department’s non-emergency line is 330-745-2181, per the Barberton Police Department, and anyone with urgent or time-sensitive information is urged to call 911. Police have not said whether any arrests have been made.
What BCI Does
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, part of the state attorney general's office, provides forensic and laboratory support to local law enforcement. That includes firearms examinations, DNA testing, and other scientific analyses that can be crucial when the cause of death is unclear. BCI's involvement typically brings state-level lab resources to help local detectives piece together evidence from the scene and in follow-up testing. More details on those services are available from the Ohio Attorney General's BCI.
Legal Questions Ahead
Police have not yet released the identity of the person who died, nor have they said whether any criminal charges could result from the investigation, according to Cleveland.com. Officials say they will share more information with the public once they are able to do so.
