Mentor police: Man flown to hospital after fleeing from officer, crashing into truck

A man was transported from the scene of a Mentor crash to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after allegedly fleeing from a police officer in a stolen car.

According to news release from Mentor Sgt. Paul Fiorilli, a Mentor officer spotted a stolen 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling westbound on Lake Shore Boulevard near Corduroy Road around 8:30 a.m. April 24.

The officer initiated a traffic stop as it turned onto French Boulevard, just south of Lake Shore. Fiorilli said the officer exited his cruiser and began giving verbal commands, but the driver did not comply and fled. The officer did not pursue.

The suspect, a white male in his early 30s whose name has not yet been identified, fled down French Boulevard, turning north onto Shandle Boulevard at a high rate of speed. He failed to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of Shandle and Lake Shore, striking the trailer of a tractor-trailer traveling eastbound on Lake Shore.

The Jeep and the suspect were trapped under the trailer, and he was ultimately transported by helicopter with unknown injuries.

There were no other occupants in the Jeep and the driver of the truck was not injured.

Mentor police are continuing to investigate the incident.

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