CLEVELAND — Investigators with the Ohio State Highway Patrol have identified a man who was allegedly involved in a deadly crash that claimed the life of a Cleveland man early Friday morning. They have also released dashcam footage of the crash.
It started around 1:51 a.m. when troopers say they witnessed a silver 2017 Toyota Corolla “speeding and weaving onto the berm” on I-90 East near Route 176.
When they tried to stop the vehicle, the driver fled toward I-480. As the vehicle traveled under I-71, authorities say a 9mm handgun was thrown from the driver’s side of the vehicle.
The pursuit came to an end when the vehicle crashed into a guardrail and utility pole after exiting at Harvard/Denison.
The passenger of the vehicle died as a result of the crash, and has been identified as 62-year-old Marvin Thornton of Cleveland.
The driver was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with serious injuries, where authorities say he refused to reveal his identity.
State highway patrol says fingerprints were used to identify him as 38-year-old Richard Darnell Aarons, of Cleveland.
Authorities had released photos of him and his tattoos in hopes someone could identify him early Friday.
Troopers recovered the gun that was thrown from the vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation.