70-year-old doctor dead after Cleveland Heights police chase with stolen van ends in wrong-way crash

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - A 70-year-old doctor died Wednesday night following a Cleveland Heights Police pursuit that ended with a wrong-way crash in Cleveland.

Police said officers were chasing a suspect in an Enterprise van stolen from an Amazon driver when he crashed into another vehicle, occupied by an Akron man who later died.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Dr.

Curtis Birchall.

Cleveland Heights Police said the chase began after the suspect stole the van at gunpoint around 7:18 p.m. from the 3800 block of Summit Park Road in Cleveland Heights.

During the initial chase, one of the officers reported hearing several shots fired.

Police said the van then entered I-90 eastbound going the wrong direction.

When the van crashed near the Fulton Road overpass bridge around 8 p.m., police said the suspect ran away but was arrested a short time later

Police identified the driver has Jaylen Jackson, 23, of Cleveland.

Jaylen Jackson(Bingel, Julia | (Source: Cleveland Heights police))

Jackson is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery.

According to police, Jackson also had a warrant for his arrest from the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's office on a weapons charge.

Police added a gun was recovered from the scene.

Neither the robbery victim or any police officers were injured.

The highway was closed from West 41st Street to West 25th Street for several hours.