Pursuit ends in rollover crash of stolen car

Two men were transported to the hospital following a one-car rollover crash at the intersection of Lake Avenue and Gateway Boulevard in Elyria on Oct. 7.

According to Elyria Police officials and ambulance sources, at approximately 8 p.m. a stolen dark blue 2015 Kia Optima with three male occupants lost control while being pursued by officers.

According to Elyria police reports, the vehicle was stolen from behind a home in the 100 block of Blake Street in Elyria on Sept. 18 and had temporary tags on it at the time.

The same day, a license plate was stolen from the rear of a vehicle parked at a hospital on Chestnut Commons Drive.

The stolen vehicle bearing the stolen plate, was spotted by police on Lorain Boulevard traveling towards Foster Avenue in Elyria at about 8 p.m. on Oct. 7, according to an Elyria police report.

The officers activated their lights and sirens and gave chase to the car through the area. When the Kia attempted to turn onto North Gateway Boulevard it struck a curb and went airborne, striking a tree and landing upside down, the report said.

The two male passengers identified the driver and claimed they asked him to stop evading police. One was transported to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center and released, according to the report.

The 17-year-old driver was also transported to the hospital and was later charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, failure to comply and reckless operation.