CLEVELAND — An Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper was hospitalized after his cruiser crashed into a Portage County Sheriff's deputy's vehicle while the officers chased after an allegedly stolen SUV on Interstate 76, the highway patrol said.
According to Lt. Ray Santiago of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the crash happened in Portage County on I-76 East near the exit ramp for State Route 43 in the Brimfield area some time after 4 p.m. Thursday.
Troopers initiated the chase after seeing a white Volkswagen SUV with allegedly stolen license plates driving southbound on South Arlington Street near Forbes Street in the city of Akron. The highway patrol said the SUV itself "was also suspected to be stolen."
The highway patrol said the SUV fled eastbound into Portage County where a sheriff's deputy joined the pursuit. According to troopers, the SUV swerved onto the exit ramp and "abruptly cut through a gore and re-entered the interstate." It was then that the two law enforcement vehicles crashed into each other, ending the chase, the highway patrol said.
The Portage County Sheriff's deputy was treated at the scene for minor injuries, the highway patrol said. The OSHP trooper was transported to an area hospital and is expected to recover.
The trooper had his K9 partner with him at the time of the crash. The dog was taken from the scene to an area veterinarian as a "precaution," according to OSHP.
The highway patrol said the agency is investigating the crash and "establishing and working through leads associated with the SUV and the stolen plates."