5 detained after high‑speed chase ends in crash on Cleveland’s I‑90

When Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers tried to pull over a speeding rental SUV just south of State Route 82 on northbound Interstate 71 in Brunswick, a high‑speed chase erupted that would wind through three highways before ending in a dramatic crash on Cleveland’s west side.

What happened on Friday morning?

At about 2:30 a.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, two troopers spotted a Volkswagen Atlas, a white rental vehicle, travelling well above the posted limit. The driver – whose name has not been released – ignored the signal to stop and accelerated, triggering an immediate pursuit.

The Atlas was carrying five passengers who had just returned from a concert in Columbus. As the troopers inquired over the radio, the driver swerved onto exit 94, merging onto Interstate 90 East, then abruptly cut onto West 130th Street before veering onto the I‑90 East exit ramp at West Boulevard.

How the chase unfolded across highways

During the pursuit, the vehicle jumped from I‑71 to I‑90, covering roughly 12 miles in under ten minutes. The troopers coordinated with Cleveland police, who set up roadblocks along the route, but the driver kept the lead, weaving through suburban streets and narrowly missing a school zone on West 130th.

When the Atlas finally reached the I‑90 East exit, it slammed into a newly installed curb on the ramp. The impact knocked the vehicle completely off the road, yet, remarkably, none of the occupants were hurt.

Immediately after the crash, the driver bolted on foot, disappearing into a nearby alley. The five passengers, all of whom were still inside the crumpled SUV, were apprehended by the arriving highway patrol officers and taken to a local precinct for questioning.

Road safety upgrades that limited the damage

Just weeks earlier, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) completed a $2.3 million project to install protective curbing at the I‑90 West Boulevard exit. The purpose was to keep errant vehicles from rolling into the adjoining residential streets, a concern after a string of previous crashes in the area.

Neighbors like Jimmy Rivera heard the screech of tires and the thud of metal against concrete. "I heard somebody trying to put on the brakes and the sound of hitting something concrete. And I knew it had to be the exit of I‑90," he recalled, standing on his porch as the SUV came to a halt.

Local residents noted that the new curbing held the wreckage in place, preventing the vehicle from careening into nearby homes. "If those curbs hadn't been there, it could've been a lot worse for the families on the block," said another resident, who asked to remain anonymous.

Reactions from authorities and residents

Chief Darren McAllister of the Cleveland Police Department issued a brief statement: "We appreciate the quick response of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the community members who helped keep the situation contained. Our priority remains public safety, and we will continue to review pursuit policies to protect both officers and civilians."

After processing the scene, the five passengers were released without charges, as investigators determined they were merely passengers and not involved in the driver’s decision to flee.

The driver remains at large, and a manhunt is ongoing. Patrol units have increased sweeps in the Brunswick and Cleveland areas, asking anyone with information to call the tip line.

What this means for future pursuits

The incident reignites the debate over high‑speed chases in densely populated regions. A 2022 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that pursuits result in an average of 16 injuries per 1,000 chases, with fatalities occurring in roughly 2 % of cases.

Officials from the Ohio State Highway Patrol said they are reviewing their pursuit protocol, potentially expanding the use of GPS‑based vehicle tracking to limit the need for live chases on public roads.

Meanwhile, ODOT plans to monitor the effectiveness of the curbing project over the next two years. Preliminary data shows a 38 % reduction in vehicles crossing onto side streets at the I‑90 exit since the curbs were installed.

For residents, the takeaway is clear: infrastructure can make a life‑or‑death difference when high‑risk situations unfold close to homes.