Ohio Man Charged After Crashing Into EMS Unit While Fleeing Troopers

Dec. 20--MIDDLETOWN -- A Dayton man who crashed into the rear of a Middletown EMS unit that was en route to Atrium Medical Center as he was being pursued by Ohio Highway Patrol troopers early Thursday morning will be arraigned Monday.

Daniel E. Jones Jr., 27, is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. in Middletown Municipal Court on charges of eluding a police officer and having weapons under disability, both third-degree felonies, and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a fifth-degree felony.

Sgt. Dexter Howard of the Ohio Highway Patrol's Hamilton post said a state trooper attempted to stop the white Chevrolet Monte Carlo Jones was driving at about 2:48 a.m. Thursday after being observed making multiple traffic violations, such as weaving heavily, speeding and following too close.

Howard said the car quickly accelerated to speeds exceeding 90 mph on Roosevelt Boulevard, covering 2.35 miles in over two minutes. He said another trooper joined the pursuit and also saw the car continue to drive erratically.

Howard said as the car approached the intersection of Roosevelt and Breiel boulevards, it struck the rear of a Middletown EMS unit and came to rest. As Jones got out of the car, he tossed a loaded .45 caliber handgun on the ground as he fled into nearby woods. Both troopers chased Jones into the woods and a small creek bed for five to six minutes before apprehending him.

The EMS unit had three paramedics and a patient and Jones' car had three passengers. Four people were taken to the hospital, including two paramedics, the front seat passenger in Jones' car, and Jones with a minor ankle sprain. All were treated and released, according to Howard.

Jones was later taken to the Middletown City Jail where he was charged with felony flee/eluding, felony possession of a firearm, felony weapons under disability, OVI, and several traffic offenses as well as an outstanding felony warrant. He was transferred and booked into the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail in Nelsonville on Saturday on charges from Vinton County.

As for the medic unit, Fire Chief Paul Lolli said Friday he had not heard back from the municipal garage supervisor on the damage estimate yet but expects that information later this week. He said the crash leaves the city without a backup medic unit.

"We are exploring a couple options on a loaner medic unit, one from the company we will be purchasing two new ambulances from in 2016, and Trenton has offered the possibility of loaning us one of theirs," Lolli said.

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