Updated March 20, 2026, 4:10 p.m. ET
Two people died after a fleeing Prius ran a stop sign and crashed at East 19th and Hamilton in Columbus at 3:43 p.m. March 14.
According to the Columbus Division of Police, officers attempted to stop a red Prius tied to a March 10 felonious assault near Cleveland Avenue and East 26th Avenue around 3:40 p.m.
Authorities said the Prius initially pulled over, then sped off; within four blocks it ran the stop sign at East 19th Avenue and Hamilton Avenue and struck a northbound Saturn Ion.
Police said the Saturn's driver, Franklin Ward, 71, was transported to a hospital and died; passenger Tessa Berry, 52, died at the scene.
Four people in the Prius were injured, authorities said. A 17-year-old with outstanding warrants related to the March 10 shooting was treated for minor injuries and taken into custody.
A 17-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. The man, a felon, faces a charge of having weapons under disability.
The pursuit lasted about 20 seconds, according to dashboard and body-worn camera footage released by the Columbus Division of Police.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. Columbus police will conduct an internal review to determine whether the pursuit complied with policy. Authorities said additional charges are possible.