One person was killed and two others were critically injured in a crash at East 71st Street and Superior Avenue early Thursday.
According to Cleveland EMS, one woman was pronounced dead at the scene and two other women were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center in critical condition.
Cleveland EMS said the crash was heard by an EMS crew at their 7300 Superior Avenue Fire Station 22 base around 1 a.m. The EMS crew immediately left the station and started looking for the crash.
Cleveland police, who were in the area and arrived just seconds after the crash, said they discovered two people laying on the sidewalk apparently ejected from the car.
A Cleveland police officer and Cleveland firefighter were seen trying to open a smashed door with their bare hands to rescue one woman who was trapped inside.
After about 20 minutes of trying to pry her out with the jaws of life, the woman was pronounced dead inside.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 33-year-old Laquetta Hostetter, of Cleveland.
Rescue Squad 3 used to be at Station 22 (E74/Superior). Had JAWS OF LIFE and other rescue equip. CLOSED IN 2013. https://t.co/dQeih9ykQR
— CLE Firefighters-L93 (@Cleveland_FFs) February 4, 2016
Several other Cleveland police officers assisted EMS crews with the two patients on the ground.
Police are working on the cause of the crash but said it appears the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control and hitting a utility pole on the passenger's side.
