By MARIA KACIK

Staff Writer

CHATHAM TWP. — A pursuit of a vehicle by state highway patrol troopers and Medina County sheriff’s deputies Monday ended in the driver losing control and crashing while crossing a railroad track between Spencer and Chatham townships.

Two people were transported to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center via emergency helicopter. Names and conditions were not available at presstime.

The patrol reported:

At 6:55 a.m. Monday, a trooper stopped a gold Saturn four-door registered in Arizona on Interstate 71 northbound near mile marker 204 in Westfield Township. As a trooper approached the car on foot, the driver sped off. The trooper pursued the car until it exited onto U.S. Route 224 westbound.

The patrol then contacted the sheriff’s department with a description and direction of the vehicle. A sheriff’s deputy located the car traveling north on Pawnee Road at a high rate of speed. The deputy pursued the car on Pawnee until the driver lost control while crossing a railroad track just south of New London Eastern Road.

The vehicle drove off the right side of the road, hitting several trees and a utility pole before coming to rest. The passenger fled on foot and was apprehended a short distance from the crash.

The driver and passenger were taken by emergency helicopter to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center.

Kacik may be reached at 330-721-4049 or mkacik@ohio.net.