Patrol identifies driver in pursuit that crashed into Huber Heights cruiser on I-70

A Huber Heights police officer was hurt after a man who fled a traffic stop by the Ohio State Highway Patrol slammed into the back of the officer’s cruiser.

The crash happened just before 2:45 p.m., near the Bridgewater Road overpass, on the left shoulder of westbound Interstate 70, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.

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The Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Springfield Post identified the driver as Michael J. Geletzke, 50, of Corning, Ohio. They said he fled from a traffic stop on westbound I-70 near state Route 72 in Clark County. Troopers called off the pursuit due to public safety concerns at mile post 42, which is between I-675 and state Route 4.

Geletzke then continued west, according to OSHP, where hit the Huber Heights police cruiser that was stopped on the left berm.

OSHP said as a result, a Huber Heights officer was taken to the hospital with injuries that were described as not life threatening.

Alcohol or drug use and reckless operation are suspected to have been a factor in the crash, troopers said. Geletzke was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on suspicion of OVI, drug possession and aggravated vehicular assault, with more charges pending due to the pursuit.

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Traffic was backed up for miles, past the Ohio 201 exchange, and was going to cost drivers an extra 30 minutes travel time, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s OHGO map.