DAYTON, Ohio — A dramatic high-speed pursuit and hostage situation unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday morning as troopers were led on a lengthy chase spanning from Columbus to Dayton. The pursuit began when a man commandeered a semi-truck near London, Ohio, and took off along Route 70, leaving two suspects dead.
It all started after London Police tried to pullover a van with no lights. The suspect and a woman-passenger went into the truck stop and that’s when they stole a semi with the driver inside.
The chase covered considerable ground, involving dangerous maneuvers and escalating tensions. At one juncture, the pursuit veered into a Travel Centers of America truck stop, where the suspect intentionally collided with multiple police cruisers. The semi-truck, which had been traveling along Interstate 70, even proceeded against traffic in the westbound lanes during a portion of the pursuit.
After a series of maneuvers that saw the semi truck briefly exit and re-enter Interstate 70, the driver navigated a circuitous route back to Springfield, Ohio, before retracing towards Dayton, ultimately heading in the direction of the Dayton International Airport.
The pursuit concluded near the airport as the semi truck driver exited onto Terminal Road. Law enforcement was behind him, including a SWAT team and hostage negotiator from the Dayton Police Department. Communication with the driver was established through a cellphone, and the suspect used a pen to convey demands on paper, which he held up against the driver’s side window.
Among the demands made by the suspect were a pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes and three Mountain Dew beverages. Troopers verified two individuals within the cab of the truck, alongside the armed driver — one being the woman-suspect and the other, the innocent driver. Authorities believe the lead suspect to be a local resident hailing from the Vandalia area.
The standoff ended shortly before 8 a.m. when the original truck driver — the hostage — was released from the cab. Moments later, flash bangs rang out and nearly a dozen gunshots were unloaded by law enforcement into the cab.
Both suspects were dragged out of the cab — visibly injured — and loaded onto stretchers and rushed to local hospitals. Both died when they arrived at the emergency room.
Troopers roped off the immediate area and said more information will be released later today.
This is a developing story. Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available.