Few details on Route 2 crash that injured trooper on Tuesday

AMHERST TWP. — Details are sketchy on the investigation into an incident Tuesday evening when an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper was struck and seriously injured by a motorist while directing traffic. In a brief 911 dispatch tape, a voice believed to be a Highway Patrol dispatcher requests paramedics to respond to state Route 2 and Middle Ridge Road to aid the injured trooper. "I need EMS, my trooper was hit, 2 and Middle Ridge, she's not conscious," she said on the tape, which was provided to the The Chronicle-Telegram by Lorain County 911 on Wednesday. A dispatcher at the Elyria post said Wednesday no supervisors were on station or available to answer questions until 10 p.m. She said she did not have information on the trooper's identity or potential charges to be filed. A message seeking the trooper's identity and whether charges might be filed against the motorist, 55-year-old Edward Balmert of Lorain, was left for Elyria post commander Lt. Alan Dunbar. Troopers named Balmert in a news release but did not state whether he was immediately charged. There also were questions about the condition of the roadwork and whether traffic lights at the intersection were working properly. Independent witnesses said the light was not working at the time and that was why the trooper was out directing traffic. The Highway Patrol said Balmert was driving a 2020 Kia Sportage making a left turn onto Middle Ridge Road from Route 2 just after 6 p.m. when he struck and seriously injured the trooper. The trooper was taken to Mercy Hospital in Lorain with serious injuries and was last reported in stable condition. The trooper was wearing a reflective safety vest at the time of the crash. Two Lorain city service trucks were on the scene working on the traffic lights while troopers investigated the crash. A message seeking comment was left with the Lorain Street Department. A message seeking comment on conditions and work at the intersection also was left for an Ohio Department of Transportation spokeswoman. Balmert was not injured, and he was seen wearing handcuffs at the scene by a Chronicle-Telegram photographer. Lorain County Sheriff's deputies and Lorain County Emergency Management personnel also responded to the scene. The intersection was closed for several hours. Balmert has prior traffic offenses on his record, according to Lorain Municipal Court records. The most recent charge is violating highway traffic signal indicators from 2018, and prior charges include a seat belt ticket in 2012, an expired plates charge in 2006 and a following too closely charge in 2000. Balmert paid fines to settle all four of those misdemeanor charges, according to court records. He does not appear to have a criminal arrest record in Lorain County, according to Lorain County Jail records. No records under Balmert's name could be found in Elyria, Avon Lake, Oberlin or Vermilion municipal court records and he has no prior criminal records listed in Lorain County Common Pleas Court records. Contact Dylan Reynolds at (440) 329-7123 or dreynolds@chroniclet.com; or Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him at @daveobrienCT on Twitter.