Painesville man accused of aggravated vehicular homicide in fatal crash

A Painesville man accused of causing a Painesville Township crash that killed a Painesville woman is now awaiting indictment by a Lake County grand jury.

Francisco Mendez-Escamilla, 23, is accused of causing an Aug. 14 crash involving three vehicles on Route 20 near mile post 18, about halfway between Mantle Road and Fairport Nursery Road.

According to a news release from the Ohio Highway Patrol, Mendez-Escamilla was allegedly 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 center line.

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. MendezEscamilla was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, sustaining life-threatening injuries, according to the news release.

The juvenile driver received minor injuries and was transported to TriPoint Medical Center in

Concord Township.

The road remained closed for three hours.

Mendez-Escamilla was arraigned in Painesville Municipal Court on charges of first-degree felony aggravated vehicular homicide and second-degree felony aggravated vehicular assault.

He also faces misdemeanor charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of them.

His case was bound over to the Lake County Common Pleas Court, where he awaits a grand jury indictment. He remains in the Lake County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond with a 10% option.