Emergency response personnel respond to a three-vehicle crash from a high-speed pursuit at the intersection of Elida Road and Cole Street on Wednesday.
Richard Parrish/The Lima News
LIMA — The Allen County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the driver of an SUV who fled after a fiery three-vehicle crash Wednesday on Elida Road.
According to the release, the incident began Wednesday in Delphos. The West Central Ohio Task Force had identified Cory L. Wright, 39, of Lima as part of an ongoing investigation, and when Wright was seen committing a traffic violation, officers from the Delphos Police Department initiated a traffic stop. Wright, driving a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, then fled toward Lima from U.S. Route 30 near the state Route 309 exit continuing on Elida Road, traveling at nearly 120 miles per hour.
The pursuit was terminated by Allen County Sheriff’s Office supervisors near the intersection of Elida Road and Eastown Road due to traffic conditions. However, Wright continued to drive recklessly, according to the release, before causing the three-vehicle accident at the Cole Street intersection, crashing into the traffic light and causing the SUV to catch on fire. When law enforcement arrived at the scene, Wright had already fled. However, eyewitnesses were able to guide law enforcement to Wright’s location, where he was taken into custody. A total of $2,296 in U.S. currency was found in Wright’s possession and seized as evidence during the arrest, according to the release.
Eyewitnesses also informed investigators that they saw Wright fleeing the scene carrying a bag. After canvassing the area, investigators located the bag and three kilograms of cocaine that Wright is believed to have been trying to hide from law enforcement. This led to the execution of a search warrant at Wright’s residence, 565 W. Grand Ave., a search that led to the discovery of $55,740 in U.S. currency, three handguns, drug paraphernalia and a large amount of marijuana.
Wright is currently being held at the Allen County Jail on a charge of possession of cocaine. Additional charges related to the pursuit, crash and follow-up investigation are likely to be filed, according to the release.
