LORAIN CARJACKING TURNS DEADLY

BREAKING NEWS

Lorain – A crash on Clifton Ave in Lorain late Sunday night has left one man dead and another in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Witnesses say the Ford Focus was traveling southbound on Clifton Ave after crossing East 36th Street at a high rate of speed. The car went off the west side of the road and made its way through several yards before striking a tree, flipping over and landing on a front porch.

Assistant Chief Gary Burls of the Lorain Fire Department said that his Firefighters had to stabilize the vehicle and cut off the door and other parts of the car before extricating one of the occupants. The second occupant was pronounced dead at the scene.

LifeCare Paramedics transported the man to Community Health Partners where they were met by a team from Metro LifeFlight. The man was then flown to MetroHealth Medical Center.

This story began around 9:30 – 10:00 P.M. when a Grafton man, who did not want his name released, was fueling his pick up truck at the Speedway on Leavitt Road near Route 2. He said a white male approached him asking for a ride. He said that he was living in a motel across the street and that his car was broken and needed a ride to his girlfriends house on Leavitt Road near PC Campana. The Grafton man said he felt bad for the man so after first saying no he gave in and said he would take him down the road.

“Once we got close to PC Campana I asked him where the house was that we were going to and he said that plans have changed because they weren’t home. Then he said he had a couple other stops he wanted me to take him to, I said no that I couldn’t do that but then he pulled a knife and said that I should just do what he said.”

The victim said they drove to about 8 different locations throughout the city of Lorain. “In each stop just about the same thing happened. We would pull up and a young black male would walk to his side of the truck, they would shake hands then exchange something. Then we would be on our way to the next stop.”

The victim said that after more then an hour of driving around he had had enough and told the man, I can’t do this anymore, if you are going to stab me then stab me but I can’t keep doing this. It was then that the man told the victim to take him to one more location then he would let him go unharmed.

“So we get to the last location and as we pulled up there was a Ford Focus there waiting for us with an older black male sitting inside. As the guy was getting out of my truck I noticed that he was taking my wallet that was sitting in the center console. Now, I am just a simple man and I don’t have a lot of money so I did not want him leaving with my wallet and my money so I pulled on his jacket, that is when he turned and cut me.”

The suspect got into the focus with the victims money and fled. The victim fell in behind the Focus and followed them, all the while on the phone with the Lorain Police Department telling them what happened and where they were.

“At one point, I think near 28th I saw the Police pull up and I waived to them pointing out the Focus then they got in behind them. It was just another couple minutes before they crashed.”

The victim did not see the crash but arrived shortly after and saw the aftermath.

Check back later today for more details and to see all photos from the scene.