COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A crash involving a fleeing teenager resulted in two fatalities on Saturday afternoon.
According to Columbus police, a 17-year-old male was attempting to evade officers when the incident occurred at the intersection of Hamilton and 19th avenues. The teen was traveling westbound on 19th Avenue when he failed to yield at a stop sign and collided with a Saturn, which was northbound.
The victims have been identified as 71-year-old Franklin Ward and 52-year-old Tessa Berry, both residents of Columbus. Berry, a passenger in the Saturn, was pronounced dead at the scene. Ward, the driver, was transported to Grant Medical Center and later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities reported that officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the Prius near Cleveland and Maynard avenues, suspecting it was linked to a prior crime. The driver fled, prompting officers to disengage from pursuing due to safety protocols.
Three individuals from the Prius, including the driver, were subsequently taken into custody. The intersection was closed for several hours as the Franklin County Coroner's Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigated the scene.