A rash of overdoses broke out across the Akron area Friday night, and police suspect heroin laced with Fentanyl and carfentanil is to blame.
Police and fire reported at least 24 separate incidents of overdoses on Friday night alone. Akron police confirmed at least four overdose deaths on Thursday night and said there have been 112 fatal overdoses in the city so far this year.
Wandering Toddler
The Akron Fire Department responded to a report of multiple overdoses around 5 p.m. on Concord Avenue. It was also reported that a toddler was wondering through the neighborhood during the overdoses.
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Initially, three adults were treated and transported to a local hospital. Officers arrived and searched the area for the 3-year-old, eventually finding the child a house over. After the scene was cleared, a fourth person was found overdosed. They were treated and transported to a hospital.
Fiery Crash
Police also responded to a fiery vehicle crash near the Macy's at Chapel Hill Mall. Police confirmed that the crash was caused by an overdosed driver. The individual was treated and transported to Akron City Hospital.
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Witnesses reported the driver of the truck was driving erratically, but didn't hit any buildings, cars or people. The driver hit the pole of a stop sign when his truck began smoking. He then drove across the parking lot, hitting a guard rail, which began the fire. The truck was became fully engulfed in flames, and police said the man was passed out inside the burning cab. He suffered some burns when he was pulled from the vehicle, but is expected to survive.
Found passed out
A third overdose happened in Akron on the 700 block of South Canton Road. Police reported that a man was laying in the middle of the sidewalk, between a closed medical office and dance studio. Police didn't know if he was coming from either of those places. He was revived with Narcan and transported to the hospital.
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A fourth overdose was confirmed by police, who found a man laying on the ground in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen on Brittain Road. Captain Brian Simcox said police have been flushed with at least eight reported overdoses Friday night.
