Willoughby: Suspect leads police on chase, crashes in backyard

WILLOUGHBY -- A suspect and a passenger in his car are recovering from injuries they sustained in a crash after fleeing police. Watch the dashcam video!

The Willoughby Police Department charged Thomas Kovach of Cleveland with reckless driving, felony fleeing and OVI.

Police saw Kovach driving 65 mph in a 35 mph zone on Route 20 in Willoughby. They began following the vehicle and witnessed the driver go through numerous red lights on Mentor Ave. as the car continued westbound on Euclid Ave.

The driver then traveled northbound on Route 91 into Eastlake. While on Vine Street, the car went between two poles and struck a metal bench and fence.

The police continued to pursue the vehicle down Vine St and then to E. 348th St., where the vehicle struck a building. The vehicle continued on E. 348th where it then crashed through a fence, flipped upside down in a backyard, trapping the driver and passenger.

Kovach and his passenger were transported to Hillcrest Hospital where they were treated for non life-threatening injuries.