Euclid police pursuit ends in accident, sending four people to the hospital

CLEVELAND – A Euclid police chase ended Monday night in Cleveland's Glenville neighborhood, leaving four people injured.

The accident occurred at the intersection of St. Clair Avenue and East 105th Street around 7:30 p.m

According to witnesses, Euclid police were pursuing a Kia SUV westbound on St. Clair Avenue when the accident occurred.

“It was just high speed,” said Devion Steele, who witnessed the accident. “It was all gasoline, no brakes.”

“I don't think they had a chance to hit the brakes,” said Shawn Carter, who also witnessed the accident. “Everything happened so quickly, like it happened in an instant.”

At the scene of the accident, two heavily damaged Kias and a Euclid police SUV were parked next to a bus stop where Lee Hodge said she was sitting at the time.

“God protected me,” Hodge said. “The car exploded right in front of me and the steam hit my leg and I narrowly escaped it. I praise the Lord that I live.”

Euclid police did not release information about why officers pursued the Kia or what chain of events led to the crash.

Neither a Euclid police spokesman nor the city's mayor returned calls seeking information.

Cleveland EMS said four people were hospitalized.

They said a 14-year-old girl suffered serious injuries.

A 56-year-old woman and two 15-year-old boys were all abducted in serious condition.

Witnesses said one of the 15-year-olds was the driver of the car pursued by police.