Patrol investigates pedestrian injury crash on State Route 8

Akron - The Ohio State Highway Patrol is currently investigating a single vehicle pedestrian injury crash which occurred earlier this morning. The crash occurred on State Route 8 north of Season Road at milepost 11. 

At approximately 04:50 a.m., troopers responded to reports of a wrong-way driver traveling southbound in the northbound lanes on Interstate 77. Troopers located the vehicle, a 2013 silver Kia Optima driven by Jovon Dawson, 23, of University Heights. A traffic stop was initiated, the driver fled the scene and a pursuit ensued. A short time later, Stop Sticks were deployed by the Stow Police Department ending the pursuit on State Route 8.  

Once the Kia came to a stop, Dawson exited the vehicle and ran east into the woods. While attempting to cross State Route 8 on foot, he ran into the side of a 2008 Honda Odyssey driven by John Arnette, 32, of Uniontown, which was traveling southbound. Arnette was wearing a seat belt and was not injured in the crash.  

Dawson received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Akron City Hospital. Drug use is believed to be factor.  

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Stow police and fire/EMS departments; the Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, and Boston Heights police departments; and the Summit County Sheriff’s Office.  

This incident remains under investigation by the Patrol’s Akron Post.