High speed chase ends in wreck

YOUNGSTOWN — A Lisbon woman who led police on a chase that reached more than 100 mph was taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for observation.

Julie Ann Toot, 43, of West Pine Street, remained in the emergency room at the hospital Tuesday night.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, a police officer on patrol and traveling north on Edwards Street and saw a car turn onto Mercer Street without signaling. The officer followed the car, which was driven by Toot, and saw her fail to signal again when she turned on to Marshal Street, a police report said.

The officer tried to stop Toot’s car on Marshal but she sped up and got on to Interstate 680. The officer followed with lights and sirens activated as Toot continued to accelerate, the report said. She weaved in and out of traffic traveling 70 mph to 80 mph, leaving the city limits.

She then sped to 100 mph, the report said. As she approached the state Route 11 south and Interstate 80 interchange, she abruptly cut across two lanes of traffic to get onto Route 11.

The report said that Toot was traveling on the berm and shoulder. The officer halted the chase when Toot nearly caused a truck that she tried to pass to crash, according to the report.

About four minutes later, dispatch notified the officer that Toot had crashed on the U.S. Route 224 on-ramp from Route 11 and that the Ohio State Highway Patrol had her in custody.

There was a warrant for her arrest for possession of cocaine from Florida. Toot hasn’t had a driver’s license since 1996.

She was cited for no operator’s license and for failure to signal, and charged with felony fleeing and eluding.