Columbia Station man charged in fatal crash

A Columbia Station man is facing charges after an October 2019 crash that resulted in the death of a passenger and an off-duty fire- fighter.

According to police records, Keith Liedtke, 31, is facing four counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault and two counts of OVI in connection with the Oct. 27 crash on Sprague Road west of state Route 252 in Columbia Township.

Liedtke was driving a Pontiac G5 along with passenger Brent Reizler, 27, also of Columbia Station, at 2:55 a.m. when the vehicle veered off the right side of the road and struck a utility pole.

The impact broke the pole in half and caused power lines to fall onto the roadway, according to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Elyria Post.

Both occupants exited the Pontiac after impact and started to walk northbound across the road when they came into contact with the downed power lines.

Columbia Township firefighter and EMT Brett Wilson was one of two individuals in the area who came to offer assistance after overhearing the crash.

Wilson died while trying to rescue the crash victims who came into contact with the downed power lines on the road.

Reizler also died from his injuries after coming into contact with the lines.

At the time of the crash, authorities said alcohol use was suspected.

Liedtke was transported to Southwest General Hospital in Middleburg Heights and later sent to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland by medical helicopter with serious injuries following the crash.

A 24-year-old female bystander of Cleveland was transported to Southwest General Hospital with serious injuries.

According to records, Liedtke is in the Lorain County Jail on $100,000 bond after being booked Feb. 14.

A court date is not immediately available.

Liedtke