Three dead after wrong-way crash on Interstate 90 in Avon

Three people are dead after a fiery wrong-way crash on Interstate 90 in Avon on Sunday night. According to a news release from the State Highway Patrol, Avon police tried to stop a Tesla Model 3 driven by Andrew Sheridan, 50, of Avon Lake, near the Nagel Road interchange. Sheridan was believed to have been involved in a domestic violence incident in Avon Lake earlier that evening, authorities said. The news release stated that Sheridan drove off from the traffic stop, and got on I-90 from the Nagel Road interchange, driving east in the westbound lanes. The Tesla struck two other cars traveling westbound, a 2014 Chevrolet Cruze and a 2019 Chevrolet Traverse. Sheridan was pronounced dead at the scene. Josylynn Geren, 24, of Elyria, was driving the Cruze, with Samantha Spicer, 24, as a passenger. Both were killed in the crash as well and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Avon police records. Richard A. Siaz, 26, of Lorain, was driving the Traverse. He was taken to a local hospital for what were termed non-life-threatening injuries. Westbound I-90 was closed for about four hours. The news release stated the crash and domestic incident remain under investigation. Highway Patrol Lt. Ray Santiago said in an email there was no further information to be released Monday. Troopers said the earlier domestic violence incident, the traffic stop and events preceding the crash were being investigated by the Avon Police Department. Avon Police Department spokesman Jim Drozdowski said Monday investigative reports by his agency hadn't yet been completed and no body-worn or dashboard camera video was immediately available for release. The Avon Lake Police Department said in a news release that it responded to the area of Greystone Circle for a reported domestic disturbance between a husband and wife. Police learned that Sheridan had left the house in a gray Tesla before officers arrived, and they found probable cause to charge him with domestic violence. Avon Lake police then asked Avon police to be on the lookout for Sheridan's car, they said. In a separate news release, Avon Police Chief Dan Fischbach said his agency was contacted by Avon Lake police at about 10:45 p.m. to be on the lookout for Sheridan and his car. He was last known to be in the area of Nagel Road and I-90, Fischbach wrote. Avon officers saw the Tesla on Nagel Road about 3 minutes later, and an officer activated the lights on their cruiser and tried to stop it. The Tesla, headed northbound at the time, "immediately fled, turning onto the westbound Interstate 90 exit ramp at Nagel Road and traveled the wrong way down the ramp toward the interstate," Fischbach wrote. The Avon officer followed and tried to perform a pursuit intervention technique — or PIT maneuver, sometimes defined as "precision immobilization technique" — to cause the Tesla to spin out and come to a stop. It involves tapping the rear of the fleeing vehicle with the cruiser while both are in motion, to try and force it to a stop. Before that could happen, the Telsa "rapidly accelerated down the exit ramp and entered Interstate 90," and collided with the Cruze and Traverse, Fischbach wrote. "The time between the Avon Police Officer's initial activation of emergency lights to attempt the traffic stop and the collision was approximately 20 seconds," Fischbach wrote. An Avon police radio dispatch log released by that department shows an officer reporting Sheridan's car having crashed just before 10:51 a.m. and on fire seconds later, with firefighters en route. Westlake police immediately shut down I-90 at Crocker Road to the east for several hours at the request of Avon police, who were on the scene for more than five hours, according to dispatch records. Fischbach called the crash "horrific." He thanked his officers, firefighters, paramedics and other emergency personnel who responded. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident," Fischbach wrote. "We recognize that no words can ease the pain of such an unexpected and devastating loss." A MealTrain fund-raiser for Geren's surviving family members was set up. Geren left behind a son, her mother and brother, the fundraiser said. Contact Vince Guerrieri at 440-329-7124 or vguerrieri@chroniclet.com. Contact Dave O'Brien at 440-329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.