Witness Chases Down Driver After Hit and Run on Rescue Vehicle

A Solon rescue squad was tending to injured motorists after a hit-and-run crash on U.S. 422 on Oct. 2 when another car struck a fire department vehicle and then sped off.

A witness to that hit and run followed the car into Warrensville Heights, where the witness confronted the driver, removed the keys and called police, said Fire Chief Bill Shaw.

Arrested and charged was Melissa Ault, 32, of Avon. She was charged with failure to stop within assured clear distance, drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Ault refused a breathalyzer test, according to the police report.

According to Shaw, members of Solon Fire Rescue had responded to a hit-skip crash on U.S. 422 westbound near Harper Rd. at about 10:44 p.m. on Oct. 2. Three victims were taken to area hospitals.

While paramedics were on the scene, a 2000 Chevy Tahoe crashed into the fire department's command car and then fled the scene, Shaw said. 

The command car was on the highway with other emergency vehicles with emergency warning lights activated. No one was hurt in the crash; the car was unoccupied.