MAN DRIVES OFF 57 INTO WOODS

TMC NEWS / BRIAN WOODS

Elyria – Turning attention away from the road in an attempt to reach for something in the car was the apparent cause of a single car crash on Route 57 Sunday afternoon that sent one man to Cleveland by helicopter.

Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said that the driver, 37-year-old John Crouser of Elyria, was traveling northbound on 57 from Chestnut Ridge Road at the time of the crash. As he was making the first curve on 57 he reached for something inside of his car – lost control and went off the right side of the road. Crouser’s car went into the ditch and up into a wooded area.

Brlas said the area in the woods was tight to work in but they were able to extricate Crouser without having to use any special tools.

Firefighters carried Crouser from the woods to the ambulance where Paramedics treated him and then transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital. Crouser was later flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Brlas said although the injuries did not seem to be life threatening, they were significant enough for LifeFlight to be called.

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