CLEVELAND, OH — Cleveland police now believe the driver of a car that split in half following a violent crash Thursday night was likely shot before he smashed into another car.
Investigators said that crash happened around 6:30 p.m. Thursday at East 55th Street and Cedar Avenue.
Witnesses said the driver of a Lincoln Town Car appeared to speed northbound on East 55th before slamming into another car in the intersection.
"It shot like a bat out of hell, I'm telling you it was going that fast," said a woman said at the scene.
Police said the Town Car careened into a utility pole, throwing the driver and a 16-month-old out of the wreckage.
Both were rushed to the hospital, where doctors found the man was shot.
Among the mangled wreckage of the car, police found a bullet hole.
The driver, 27-year-old Deven Wheat Jr., died.
The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has not determined if he was killed in the crash or shooting.
Cleveland police said they're treating Wheat's death as a homicide.
The 16-month-old remained in the hospital Friday with serious injuries.
Police did not say where the shooting occurred, but said it likely took place before the crash.
The driver Wheat hit was not injured according to police.
