CRASH SENDS TEEN TO METRO

Elyria Township – A two-car crash on Route 254 at Elyria Ave Saturday afternoon sent one 15-year-old female to Metro by helicopter.

Chris Jasper runs Easy Credit Auto Sales at the southeast corner of Route 254 and Elyria Ave – On Saturday he was sitting on the back of one his cars just watching traffic and waiting for the next customer. “I saw as the silver car began making a left turn onto Elyria when the lady in the red minivan crashed right into the passenger side of the car.”

Trooper Shawn Kline of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said that 18-year-old Alexander Ramos of Lorain was driving the silver Eclipse westbound on Route 254 and was making a left turn onto Elyria when 53 year old Debra Dechant of Elyria, who was traveling east on 254, apparently ran a red light – striking the eclipse. “Right now I have spoken to several witnesses and the one gentleman from the auto sales shop is confident that he saw the green arrow for Ramos, I stood where he said he was at the time and it is a clear view of the traffic light.”

Elyria Township Firefighters and Paramedics had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the 15-year-old victim as the passenger side of the car was crushed in a foot and a half.

After extricating the girl Paramedics transported her to the old Elyria West High School property where Metro LifeFlight met them. The helicopter medical staff worked on the girl in the back of the ambulance while her Mother stood just outside watching. Moments later she was loaded on the chopper and flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Her condition is not known at this time.

Sheffield Township Firefighters transported Ramos to the hospital with minor injuries and Dechant was taken to the hospital by her husband to be evaluated.

Trooper Kline said that at this point it is likely that Dechant will be charged with a running the red light. He also stated that it does not appear that drugs or alcohol played a roll in the crash.

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