DRIVER GOES WRONG WAY ON 2

COLLIDES WITH CAR & TRUCK

Amherst – A man driving east in the westbound lane of Route 2 late Saturday night dodged semis and other cars before colliding head-on with two cars.

Don Wheeler and his family were driving east on Route 2 in their red minivan Saturday night – heading home to Medina after a long day at Cedar Point. Wheeler said everything was normal until they looked over in the westbound lane and saw a car traveling eastbound. “We immediately got on the phone with 9-1-1 telling them what we were seeing. We were flashing our lights and honking our horn along with others around us but the guy just kept going.”

Wheeler said they traveled about 10 miles and were switched 3 times to different 9-1-1 Operators as they traveled through different jurisdictions. “During this time we saw semis coming at him, at full speed, flashing their lights at him and somehow able to miss him. Then someone from behind us crossed over and sped up to get along side of the car to try to alert him. He tried to bump him with his car a little bit but then when the guy bumped back into him he just backed off and crossed back into our lanes.”

Troopers and Police were notified and on the way but just moments too late. “As the guy got up her to the curve we saw the white Grand Am and green pick up truck coming at him and we just couldn’t see how this collision could be avoided.”

Wheeler said the Grand Am was in the left lane and was struck head-on by the wrong way driver. The collision broke off the passenger side front tire of the Grand Am and sent the car into the median. The wrong way driver’s car was spun into the right lane colliding with the pick up truck.

Wheeler said he ran to the scene to see if he could offer any help. “I thought for sure somebody was going to be dead, especially the guy that was going the wrong way but when we got to his car he was alert but had head injuries, you can see where his head hit the windshield.”

LifeCare Paramedics and Amherst Firefighters responded to the scene and went car to car providing care to the three victims.


Firefighters said that although damage was heavy no extrication was needed.

Amherst Police Officers were investigating the scene along with help from Troopers from the State Patrol and Officers from Vermilion Police Department.

LifeCare transported the driver of the wrong way car and the driver of the Grand Am, both to Community Health Partners in Lorain. The driver of the pick up truck refused any treatment or transport.

Standing along the side of the road watching the clean up process and writing witness statements, the Wheeler family reflected on what they had just gone through. “It was like we were in the Steve Martin, John Candy movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” where they were going the wrong way on the highway. I’m still shocked that nobody was killed, very happy that nobody was but with what we saw – well, they were all very lucky.”


PHOTO GALLERY

Remember if you are driving and see an accident scene ahead, “SLOW DOWN AND MOVE OVER” – Allow Police, Fire, EMS and Tow Services to do their jobs without becoming a victim.