A woman allegedly under the influence of alcohol struck a marked Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser in a construction zone on I-271 in Willoughby Hills on Thursday night.
Mary Vitolo, 35, of Willoughby, was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence and aggravated vehicular assault.
Two marked cruisers with activated overhead lights were driving slowly up I-271 in the local lanes to allow construction crews to transition to a work safety zone, just south of the Interstate 90 interchange.
Shortly after 11 p.m., Vitolo was driving northbound on I-271 when her Subaru struck a 2014 Dodge Charger cruiser in the left lane. The Subaru continued through the grass median that separates local and express lanes before coming to a rest on the right berm of the express lanes on I-271.
Both vehicles sustained heavy damage. The trooper in the cruiser was taken to Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, where he was treated and released.
Vitolo refused treatment at the scene and was booked into Lake County Jail.
