Baby Among Those Hurt When Suspected Shoplifter Flees Scene

AVON, Ohio — A man accused of shoplifting, a baby in the getaway car and another driver were taken to the hospital after the suspect crashed while fleeing the scene.

The City of Avon Police Department received a call around 3:33 p.m. on Tuesday about a theft occurring at the Kohl’s Department Store in the Avon Commons.

A man reportedly left the store after stealing merchandise and had a baby with him.

According to Avon Police, the man headed west on SR 254 (Detroit Road) in a reckless manner.

Officers began to tail the vehicle and attempted to make a traffic stop on SR 254 at SR 83, but the man drove through a red light to get away.

A short chase followed, but officers dropped back around 3:36 p.m. when they were alerted there was a baby in the vehicle and felt a crash was imminent.

The suspect pressed on and drove through another red light at SR 254 and SR 611 where he crashed into a vehicle entering the intersection.

He continued to head west and struck another vehicle that was stopped for the red light on the eastbound side of SR 254, Avon police said.

That crash caused a chain reaction and another car was impacted.

The suspect was taken to the Avon Emergency Care Center (AECC) and later flown by helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center.

The baby was taken to AECC then transferred by ambulance to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.

The driver of one of the vehicles hit was taken to St. John Westshore Hospital.

According to the Avon Police Department, none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening.

Other details on the injures were not immediately released.

FOX8.com withheld the name of the suspect because numerous charges were pending at the time of this report.