CRASH VICTIM DIES AT METRO

Michael C. Kelley died Wednesday afternoon at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland where he has been since Monday after crashing on his Scooter on Route 57 in Elyria.

Kelley attended St. Peter’s grade school and played CYO football for four years. He graduated in 1980 from Marion L. Steele High School where he excelled in sports.

He worked as an Insurance Agent for New York Life, where he was named “New Agent of the Year” and won many sales and service accolades. Later he went to work for his father Jack Kelley, CLU & Associates Insurance Agency as Sales Manager.

For the complete Obituary on Michael Kelley: CLICK HERE

SOMEONE’S GETTING GROUNDED

Elyria – A ride to a friend’s house Tuesday ended with a crash on Middle Ave and 15th Street.

Jake Glover said that he and his brother were riding in a friend’s 2001 Audi south on Middle Ave Tuesday afternoon when the crash occurred. “I was in the front seat and my brother was in the back seat. When we got to 15th Street we wanted to turn left and this van was stopped in the opposite lane like she was going to turn left too – well, she waived us to go ahead so we did and that is when another car hit us.”

LifeCare Paramedics treated and transported two of the occupants of the other car while the third refused treatment or transport. Glover, his brother and the driver also all refused treatment or transport.

The driver of the Audi was charged with Failure to Yield a Left Turn. Police say that even if another driver waives you on it is always your responsibility to make sure everything is clear before proceeding.

When Kyle Glover told his younger brother Jake that their friend was getting charged with the crash he responded; “Yeah and he’s getting grounded for a long time too.”

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CRASH VICTIM REMAINS CRITICAL

Police have released the name of Monday’s Scooter crash victim as 47 year old Michael C. Kelley of Amherst.

Kelley was traveling on east on Route 57 when he crashed his black Scooter between Furnace and West River.

Police continue to believe that Kelley was in some type of medical distress at the time of the crash. He remains in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

HISTORIC CAR INVOLVED IN CRASH

VICTIM FLOWN TO METRO WITH HEAD INJURY

TMC NEWS PHOTOS / BRIAN WOODS

Elyria – A driver running a red light was the cause of a two car crash Tuesday morning at the intersection of Cleveland Street & Olive in Elyria.

Police say that 75 year old Goodie Salvi of Elyria ran a red light and struck 69 year old Robert Franks of North Ridgeville as he was traveling west on Cleveland Street crossing the intersection.

Franks was driving a 1934 Ford with suicide doors.

Howard Bruce works at the Convenient Food Mart on Cleveland Street and heard the crash. “We went outside to see if anyone was hurt and if there was anything we could do to help. When the door opened he (Franks) just rolled out and onto the ground. The car was still in gear and moving so I jumped in and put my foot on the brake until someone was able to figure out how to turn the car off.”

Police arrived on scene and secured Franks car and began tending to him until Paramedics arrived.

LifeCare and Firefighters treated the man on scene for head injuries and transported him to Elyria Memorial where he was later flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Salvi was cited for failure to yield.


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PREGNANT WOMAN INJURED IN CRASH

Elyria – While Elyria Police were already busy at the scene of the male who crashed his Scooter on Route 57 near Furnace Monday afternoon, a two car crash occurred just blocks away.

Police say that 20 year old Pansy Raymore of Elyria was traveling north on Furnace Street near Hillsdale Court when she rear ended 32 year old Sarah McElroy.

McElroy was driving a 1994 Ford 150 and was stopped waiting to make a left turn at the time of the collision.

McElroy, who is 7 months pregnant, was complaining of neck pains at the scene. She was treated and transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital for further evaluation.

Raymore was complained about head and knee pains and was also treated at the scene and transported to the Emergency Room.

Police cited Raymore with Assured Clear Distance and McElroy with not wearing her seatbelt.

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FIREFIGHTER LAID TO REST

Carlisle Township – Family, friends and fellow Firefighters from around Lorain County said Goodbye Monday morning to Carlisle Township Firefighter Ed Shepherd.

After a short service inside of Laubenthal Funeral Home on Chestnut Ridge Road, Shepherd’s casket, draped in an American Flag, was hoisted onto a vintage Carlisle Township Fire Engine.

The procession, lead by a Lorain County Sheriff’s Deputy, included Engines from Carlisle, Eaton, LaGrange and Wellington. Command vehicles driven by their respective Chief’s came from Avon, Sheffield Village and North Ridgeville. LifeCare Ambulance had Squads in the procession and at various intersections along the route.

The route included a drive past the new Carlisle Fire Station, that was being staffed by Oberlin Firefighters during the service, and then around the old Fire Station across the street before ending up in the LaPorte Cemetery on Butternut Ridge Road – just down from Shepherd’s home.

After a few prayers the Flag was removed from Shepherd’s casket, folded and handed to Shepherd’s wife by Carlisle Fire Chief Kevin Dembiec.

There was about a minute of silence after Dembiec presented Mrs. Shepherd with the Flag – the silence was then broken with loud alert tones from the Firefighters radios. It was a Lorain County 9-1-1 Dispatcher announcing a “Final Alarm” for Firefighter Ed Shepherd.

Rest in Peace Ed

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ALERT C-T WORKERS FOIL THIEF

Elyria – Several alert employees working late Saturday night around the Chronicle Telegram loading docks spotted a man breaking into a car on the County Administration Building parking deck.

The deck butts up against the CT parking lot so the employees had a good view of the man as he busted out a window on a PT Cruiser. The employees called 9-1-1 and notified the Elyria Police Department of what was happening.

Police arrived quickly and found the man on the second level of the parking deck. The man was taken into custody by Officers and then turned over to Sheriff’s Deputies.

A large rock and a busted out window was found on the second level on the east end of the garage.

The Lorain County Sheriff’s Department is investigating.


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MAN CRITICAL AFTER CRASH ON 57

TMC NEWS PHOTOS / BRIAN WOODS

Elyria – Elyria Police are currently investigating a crash that occurred on Route 57 between West River and Furnace Street. The crash occurred around 1:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of 57. Witnesses say that the man went down and flipped his scooter.

LifeCare Paramedics and Elyria Firefighters responded and treated the man on the scene then transported him in Trauma Arrest to Elyria Memorial Hospital.

Police have blocked eastbound traffic, between Furnace and West River, while Traffic Investigators piece together what took place.

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UPDATE – 2:45 p.m. – All lanes are now open on Route 57.

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Ed Shepherd

Carlisle Township Firefighter
And Friend

Carlisle Township Firefighter Ed Shepherd, who passed away last week, will be laid to rest today in LaPorte.

Shepherd served with the Carlisle Fire Department since 1956. His casket will travel from Laubenthal Funeral Home on Chestnut Ridge Road to the cemetery on the back of a vintage Carlisle Fire Truck. The procession will go past the old and new Fire Stations before ending up at the cemetery.

CAR FLIES THROUGH THE AIR

THREE PEOPLE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL

Camden Township – One man was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center with serious injuries after he crashed his car on Baird Road Saturday night.

Trooper Dylag of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said that 31 year old Timothy Gregory, was traveling south on Baird at the time of the crash. “He came across a narrow bridge at a high rate of speed – he popped the bridge, kinda went air born at that point. When he came down he lost control and went sideways off the west side of the road.”

Dylag said that when Gregory went off the road his car struck an embankment at the edge of a driveway. “He flipped like a barrel roll air born and went completely over top of the utility phone box – hitting and severed the pole in half. He continued rolling until he came to a stop in the yard.”

Nick Gremba was attending a graduation party just across the street at the time of the crash and said he couldn’t believe what he had seen. “At first we heard the loud screeching tires – then it was nothing and then a bunch of crashing sounds. When we looked over we saw him rolling in the front yard. A bunch of us ran over to check on them, to make sure everybody was ok.”

James McCann and his wife were in bed when the noises woke them up as the crash ran through their front yard. “We could hear the car coming, you could hear skidding and then silence for a moment. Then we could hear the car’s under carriage hitting the pavement then I heard it again, so they probably bounced once or twice before coming into our yard.”

McCann’s wife looked out the window just in time to see the car barrel rolling and then landing in their front yard. “We jumped up and went outside, I made sure someone was calling 9-1-1 and then we went over to the car to check on the people inside. The passenger was completely unconscious for about 3 minutes or so and then when he came to I just tried to keep him calm and still until the ambulance got here. While this was going on, the driver kept telling people to not call 9-1-1 saying he didn’t need this trouble.”

McCann said that the passenger in the back seat crawled out through the back window.

Central Lorain County Ambulance District Paramedics and Camden Township Firefighters treated Gregory and his two passengers – David Johnson of Rochester and back seat passenger James Wagner of Spencer. All three were transported to Allen Community Hospital Emergency Room where Gregory was flown a short time later to MetroHealth in Cleveland.

Gremba and several of his friends watched as the three were taken away in ambulances and watched as D&A Towing recovered the car. “It’s just sad that this still happens – just a bunch of drunk ass dumb people. I’m just glad they didn’t hit anyone else.”

Trooper Dylag said that Gregory will be charged with Reckless Operation and that alcohol is suspected – that charge is pending due to the ongoing investigation.

Although most homeowners would be worrying about the mess they would have to start cleaning up after the crash – the McCann’s didn’t have the concern. “We’re out of here in a couple of hours. The house has been sold and we’re moving to Missouri at 5 a.m. – we’ll call and let the new homeowners know what to expect though.”



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MAN ON FIRE

Carlisle Township – Neighbors were shocked Wednesday morning when they heard a man screaming then looked out their windows and saw a man on fire.

A neighbor, who asked to not be identified, said that the 19 year old man ran from his West River Road South home on fire. “The front of his body was on fire, he was wearing those jogging type pants – like nylon – and that was all on fire. Two people who were driving by stopped and were helping him and getting the fire out however they could.”

The neighbor said that the two people left the scene after helping the man.

Carlisle Township Firefighters and LifeCare Paramedics treated the man on scene and quickly transported him to Elyria Memorial Hospital where he was flown to Cleveland with 3rd Degree Burns.

Firefighters searched the home and property for any fires but could not find any.

The Lorain County Sheriff’s Department is currently investigating the incident.


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AVON WALMART EVACUATES FOR FIRE

Avon – Customers and Sales Associates at the Avon Wal-Mart were evacuated after a strange odor filled the store.

Chief Frank Root of the Avon Fire Department complimented the management and associates at Wal-Mart for their quick thinking and good organization in getting all of the customers out of the building. “They really did a good job evacuating everyone without causing any panic and also for being such a tremendous help to us in getting us access to various parts of the building and really just having all the answers to the questions we had to find the source of the smoke and odor.”

Root said that at first they thought the source was air-conditioning units on the roof – but after a thorough search they discovered that it was coming from inside a computer room. “After the smoke became thicker and the odor changed and became more intense we did a more extensive search and found a UPS System where their computer system is for Wal-Mart. It was actually burning a battery rack in the UPS System – causing probably $10K in damages.”

There was really no smoke damage to the showroom area Root said, but the odor was throughout the building.

Sheffield Village and North Ridgeville Fire Departments assisted Avon at the scene.

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PATROL: SAFEST 4th IN 11 YEARS

Columbus - The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported five fatalities this Fourth of July holiday weekend, including two deaths stemming from ATV crashes and one from a motorcyclist. This is the least amount of fatalities during a July 4th holiday weekend since 1998, when four motorists were killed.

Last year 15 people were killed on Ohio roadways during the same reporting period.

This holiday weekend troopers arrested 556 impaired drivers and assisted 4,637 motorists. In addition to this year’s traffic enforcement efforts, the Patrol had 35 felony arrests, 117 drug violations and seized four weapons statewide.

The following Ohio traffic statistics are for the holiday weekend period of July 2 at 6 p.m. through July 5 at midnight.

The Breakdown:
State / Federal Highway – 1 Fatal Crash with an additional 3 injuries
County / Township Roads – 2 Fatal Crashes with 1 additional injury
City Streets – 2 Fatal Crashes with 1 additional injury

There were no reported Fatal Crashes on the Ohio Turnpike or any Interstate Highway – inside or outside a City.

Of the 5 Fatalities – 2 were not wearing their safety belts and 3 were not wearing helmets.