OAKWOOD VILLAGE, Ohio — A Warrensville Heights man has been charged with OVI and aggravated vehicular assault after allegedly striking a motorcycle on Friday night.
According to the Oakwood Village Police Department, officers were informed of a motor vehicle accident between an SUV and a motorcycle at the intersection of 270 North and Forbes Rd. at approximately 11:30 p.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, officers found what appeared to be a serious accident and a man laying in the road face down in blood.
A man, later identified as Ali Akram of Warrensville Heights, was standing over the man and told officers that he was the driver of the vehicle that collided with the motorcycle. Officers observed a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech from Akram.
The man on the ground, later identified as Ghadi Cole, an Oakwood and Cleveland Firefighter of Macedonia, was transported to Metro Hospital for his injuries. He suffered a skull fracture and currently has no feeling in his legs.
Akram admitted to officers that he had "a couple of drinks" approximately five hours earlier. Officers proceeded to put Akram through three field sobriety tests, which he had difficulty with.
Akram was placed in custody on suspicion of OVI and transported to Solon Jail after being checked out by Oakwood EMS for his own injuries. A search of the vehicle Akram was driving found an empty bottle of Paul Masson on the driver's side floorboard and an empty Budweiser bottle under the passenger seat.
At the Solon Jail, Akram submitted to a breath test, with his BAC level being measured at .154. Ohio's legal limit for driving is 0.08.
Akram has been charged with the following:
- Aggravated vehicular assault
- OVI Operating
- Speed assured clear distance
- Open container motor vehicle
- OVI BAC > .08 by breath
Akram has been held on a $50,000 bound with a 10 percent cash surety at the Solon Jail. A mandatory court date at Bedford Municipal Court has been set for Tuesday, May 16 at 1:30 p.m.