CLEVELAND — The Ohio State Highway Patrol has confirmed the woman who was hurt in a crash caused by a driver who was fleeing from state troopers has died.
Cleveland native Annelisa Endress, 28, passed away Friday evening at an area hospital. She had suffered serious injuries when her Toyota Scion was struck by a BMW police believe had been stolen.
According to officials, troopers pulled over the 2015 BMW 435 series on Clark Avenue near West 58th Street and Storer Avenue after a check of the vehicle's registration showed the car stolen out of a Strongsville dealership. The officers ordered both occupants of the vehicle to get out, and while the passenger complied, the driver did not, and subsequently sped down the road eastbound.
The OSHP was adamant their officers did not pursue the suspect, but he continued speeding as he turned onto Trowbridge Avenue. After apparently running through several stop signs near West 41st Street, the car collided with the Scion, which sent the Toyota through a nearby yard and crashing into a house.
Authorities say Endress was found unconscious inside her vehicle, and that troopers attempted to revive her before she was taken away via ambulance. Family members confirmed she succumbed to her injuries within hours of the crash, which occurred before 6 p.m.
The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Raymond Francis, of Brook Park. He was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries before being released and subsequently arrested. He is currently being held at the Cuyahoga County Jail, and court records show multiple prior theft convictions.
"The reason we're out here is we want to keep folks safe," Highway Patrol Sgt. Ray Santiago said Friday. "This is the last thing we want to happen and recently there's been some very vocal calls for additional traffic safety. We want folks to feel safe in their neighborhood."
Francis currently faces charges of aggravated vehicular assault, failure to comply/fleeing, theft of a motor vehicle, and possession of marijuana. As it stands, he could face more that a decade in prison, if convicted, and prosecutors have yet to add possible homicide charges. Troopers also believe he was "impaired" at the time of the incident.