60-year-old woman faces charges after 2nd police chase of the day ends in crash
By: -----
Strongsville, OH - A 60-year-old woman faces nine charges after police say she led officers on her second chase of the day, driving a stolen car through Strongsville before crashing into a police cruiser, another vehicle and a utility pole.
60-year-old Leah Stewart was the only person inside the stolen gray Hyundai. Police said she was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
The first chase happened earlier Tuesday morning when North Olmsted police pursued the stolen vehicle, according to Strongsville police.
Hours later, Strongsville officers received an alert from automated license plate reader cameras around 11:15 a.m. that the Hyundai, which Cleveland police had reported stolen, had entered the city near Pearl Road and Sprague Road.
Officers found the car at the Kings Inn and tried to stop it. Police said Stewart took off, striking a Strongsville police cruiser before fleeing north on Pearl Road.
A Strongsville officer and an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper then pursued the Hyundai.
Police said Stewart ran a red light near Whitney Road and struck an uninvolved vehicle that was turning onto Pearl Road. The impact sent the stolen Hyundai into a utility pole, and the car rolled over before coming to rest on its side just off Pearl Road.
The damage left a visible trail at the scene.
Scratch marks stretched across the ground where the Hyundai traveled after the crash. Pieces of the curb had been chipped away, and chunks of grass had been torn up. The car also narrowly missed a sign for a local business.
Video from the scene shows the Hyundai resting on its side with its blinkers flashing and its windshield wipers still moving. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured, police said.
Stewart was taken to Southwest General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said she was taken into custody after receiving treatment.
She faces nine charges in Berea Municipal Court, including failure to comply with a police officer's order or signal, assault, operating a vehicle under the influence, willful or wanton operation, failing to obey traffic control devices, possession of drug paraphernalia and having an open container of liquor.