Police pursuit of carjacking suspects ends in 2 crashes, at least 3 in custody

Springfield cruiser also crashes after aggravated robbery suspects fled from officers.

Springfield police and Clark County deputies chased carjacking suspects Monday morning in a case that resulted in two crashes, including a city cruiser, and featured a drone flying over a field with cows to find one suspect hiding in the grass.

One person inside a stolen Honda Odyssey when it crashed required transport by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. The person reportedly suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries.

A second person involved in the crash declined medical treatment.

A Springfield police cruiser involved in the pursuit reportedly crashed into a wooden fence, but the officer driving was uninjured.

Springfield police began a pursuit about 8:20 a.m. in the south side of the city near a convenience store on Selma Road, Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. James Bryner said.

Springfield police and the Clark County Sheriff's Office investigate the scene at the intersection of Fairfield Pike and Garrison Road, where a minivan crashed Monday, May 22, 2023 while being pursued from Selma Road in Springfield. Three people reportedly were involved in the crash, and one of them was transported by medical helicopter. One was not injured and the third fled the scene and was later captured in a nearby field. A fourth individual jumped out of the car soon after the pursuit began. BILL LACKEY/STAFF

Credit: Bill Lackey

icon to expand image

Credit: Bill Lackey

According to a brief release from the city, the suspects were driving a car believed to have been stolen from the 400 block of Race Street.

The car reportedly reached speeds of up to 60 mph in the city and 80 mph in the county during the pursuit.

The pursuit went into the county on Rebert Pike and Fairfield Pike, and the vehicle crashed near the intersection of Garrison Road and Fairfield Pike.

Roads were blocked in the area.

A Springfield Police Division official confirmed that one person fled the scene and went into a field.

That suspect later was found through the use of a drone piloted by Bethel Twp. Fire Chief Jacob King, who had been called in to help by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

King said the suspect was lying in tall grass among cows in a field. King said that person was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries from the crash.

A Springfield police official said the agency is also investigating other carjacking cases but could not provide an exact number or more specifics.

Officials said Springfield police were handling the original incident, while troopers were handling the crash investigations. Clark County Sheriff’s officials referred questions about the case to Springfield police.

Anyone with information on the carjacking theft can call Springfield Police Division at 937-324-7685.

About the Author