Solon Police: Impossible to Say If Guardrails Caused Fatal Crash

Solon Police officials say its impossible to know if the new guardrails on U.S. 422 contributed to a fatal crash in the early morning of Nov. 19.

Lt. Bruce Felton, a police spokesman, said the police have no new information on the one-car crash that killed Jason P. Kasmer, 28, of Solon.

He said they are waiting on toxicology reports from the Cuyahoga County medical Examiner, which could be weeks away, and the completion of other investigations. 

But some are speculating that the new guardrails on U.S. 422 may have contributed to Kasmer's death. 

Felton said there's no way to know.

"In reality, there's no way to know what happened," he said. "We don't know what caused him to lose control."

Kasmer was driving a Jeep Wrangler traveling west on US 422 around 2:10 a.m. Nov. 19 when he struck a guardrail and rolled over, ejecting the driver and killing him on impact, according to Solon police.

The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner was called to the scene, as well as the Ohio Department of Transportation, police said.

Felton said they don't know if Kasmer was wearing a seatbelt. He was ejected out of the back window of the Jeep.

The  by city officials. Officials believe the guardrails are actually more of a hazard and sent a letter to ODOT saying so.

The rails were installed only a few feet away from the left lanes, rather than in the middle of the median, like officials envisioned. Now city council officials are concerned that the barriers will cause 

Police Chief Chris Viland and Fire Chief Bill Shaw both said they if the rails become a problem.