A 66-year-old man died early yesterday after a violent chain-reaction crash on Pearl Road near Bradwell Avenue in Cleveland, where police say he was struck by one car, thrown into the opposite lane, and hit again. Officers arrived around 2:07 a.m. to find the man critically injured in the roadway. One driver had already left, another stayed behind, and the victim was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Cleveland Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit is now handling the case.
Crash on Pearl Road
According to News 5 Cleveland, officers were dispatched at about 2:07 a.m. to the area of Pearl Road and Bradwell Avenue for reports of a pedestrian struck. Investigators told the station that a vehicle heading north hit the 66-year-old man, sending him into southbound traffic, where a second vehicle struck him again. Police say the first driver did not remain at the scene, while the second driver stayed and spoke with officers. The Accident Investigation Unit is gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses as they work to piece together the sequence of events.
Legal Consequences for Leaving the Scene
Under the Ohio Revised Code, any driver involved in a crash on a public roadway is required to stop and provide identifying information. Leaving without doing so is a criminal offense. When a crash results in a death, the law allows for felony charges, with the specific level of felony depending on factors such as whether the driver knew a fatality had occurred.
How To Help
Anyone who may have seen the crash or has dash-cam or doorbell camera footage is asked to contact the Cleveland Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit at 216-623-5295, according to News 5 Cleveland. Detectives say they will review all tips and video as they work to understand exactly how the collision unfolded.
