CLEVELAND — Investigators say an innocent driver was killed overnight when someone running from police rammed into his car at a Cleveland intersection.
Cleveland EMS confirmed 54-year-old Maurice Ford died at the scene at Nottingham Road and St. Clair Avenue shortly after midnight. Euclid Police said three adult suspects from a stolen car who were involved in the pursuit and collision are currently in custody.
Cleveland EMS said the man killed was not involved in the initial police pursuit and died after the suspect crashed into them.
Our Overnight News Tracker followed Euclid Police as they shut down the area of St. Clair Avenue and Nottingham Road in Cleveland.
A Euclid police chase ended with an innocent driver dead overnight. Per CPD & CEMS the driver of a stolen SUV was west on St. Clair with EPD chasing when it hit the silver car at Nottingham. The driver of the car was pronounced dead on scene. Three from the suv are in custody. pic.twitter.com/J76uW5Bphf
— Mike Vielhaber (@MVielhaber) October 2, 2025
EMS and a CPD Lieutenant confirmed Euclid Police were chasing a stolen black Jeep SUV—westbound on St. Clair Avenue.
According to a press release from Euclid Police, officers initially responded to a report of nearly 30 shots fired and a vehicle speeding away at St. Clair Ave and E 197th Street, near the Euclid-Cleveland border.
Euclid officers patrolling the area spotted a stolen Jeep SUV in the parking lot of a bar on St. Clair Ave. FLOCK cameras indicated the vehicle had been in the area before the gunshots were reported. Suspecting the vehicle and its occupants may have been involved in the gunfire, police tried to contain it in the parking lot.
The car sped off westbound on St. Clair, followed by Euclid cruisers using lights and sirens. EPD said less than a minute after the pursuit began, it ended with the stolen SUV barreling into an unrelated Chevy Malibu.
Responding officers rendered lifesaving aid to the driver of the Malibu, but Ford was pronounced dead at the scene.
EPD said the driver of the stolen SUV ran from the crashed vehicle, but was quickly caught by officers.
Our Overnight News Tracker captured at least one suspect being handcuffed to an EMS cot, who was later identified as the driver of the stolen SUV.
Investigators said two passengers, along with the driver of the stolen vehicle, were all given medical treatment and taken into custody.
Charges are pending against the adult suspects.
The east pursuit and crash is rekindling a discussion by Cleveland leaders, who said they're frustrated that suburban police pursuits are coming into Cleveland and ending in tragedy.
“This is just very upsetting to me, very upsetting. I know the neighborhood like the back of my hand. I grew up in the Nottingham neighborhood. And for someone just to lose their life for nothing…” said Cleveland City Council member Michael Polensek, whose Ward 8 is blocks away from the crash scene.
He said many of Cleveland's neighborhoods on the edge of the city are no strangers to pursuits ending on their streets.
“We’ve got to use common sense in pursuit policy. There just cannot be these chases and chases that end up with this carnage,” Polensek said, pointing to other deadly crashes in recent years.
In March 2024, Euclid Police were chasing suspected carjackers when the fleeing vehicle hit a 44-year-old mother and grandmother on East 154th St.
RELATED: Family of woman killed after being hit by stolen car chased by Euclid police wants answers
“These guys are trying to apprehend violent suspects and I understand that. But somehow, we have to strike a balance,” Ward 6 councilman Blaine Griffin told News 5 at the time.
It was a similar sentiment from west side leaders in 2023, after three men died days apart during two separate Parma Police pursuits.
RELATED: Cleveland councilmembers want sit-down with Parma Police after two separate pursuits
“This is a subject that’s been brought up to me a lot by residents in Old Brooklyn that often see Parma Police pursuing into the city,” said Ward 13 councilman Kris Harsh in August 2023.
Cleveland leaders and Euclid Police agree that the most recent tragedy should be pinned on the suspects committing crimes and running from police.
"This was a pointless and preventable tragedy," Euclid Police said in a press release. "The callous disregard for human life displayed by the suspect took the life of an innocent person. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and friends as they endure unimaginable grief. This senseless loss of precious human life is yet another example of the extreme toll of lawless behavior in an otherwise law-abiding society."
Polensek said he understands the need to catch violent offenders, but he also believes the recent incident reinforces the need for a county-wide pursuit policy.
“They’re dealing with individuals who don’t care… they carjack people, they steal people’s cars, involved in other criminal acts. They don’t care, they’re fleeing. But we have to be mindful, of course trying to apprehend them, that we don’t jeopardize everyone else around them,” he said.
Cleveland Police are investigating the fatal crash. Euclid, Cleveland and other partners are investigating the crimes leading up to the pursuit. The suspects are being held at the Cuyahoga County jail.
