Painesville woman killed in crash near Mantle Road

Painesville man drove left of center, according to investigators

The Ohio Highway Patrol-Chardon post is investigating a fatal crash involving three vehicles on Aug. 14 in Painesville Township.

The crash occurred at about 3:45 p.m. on Route 20 near mile post 18, about halfway between Mantle Road and Fairport Nursery Road. All lanes were closed during the investigation, according to a press released from the OHP.

Francisco Mendez-Escamilla, 23, of Painesville was traveling at a high rate of speed westbound on Route 20 in the left lane when the 2016 Jeep Compass he was driving crossed the centerline, said the press release.

The vehicle struck a 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by Patricia A. Kirk of Painesville as well as a juvenile driver in a Mazda 3. Both the Pontiac and Mazda were eastbound. Mendez-Escamilla and Kirk were taken by Painesville Township Fire Department to University Hospitals in Cleveland.

Kirk sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Mendez-Escamilla was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The juvenile driver received minor injuries and was transported to TriPoint Medical Center. The road remained closed for three hours.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor in the crash at this time, according to the press release.

No further information was available on Aug. 15. Another fatal crash occurred nearby in August 2017. Autumn Baker of Painesville was sentenced

to six years in prison for the crash that killed 53-year-old Geneva resident Gwendolyn Tingley.

Baker was traveling east on Route 20 when she failed to yield while making a left turn onto Mantle Road, according to reports.