By Nick Glunt
Beacon Journal staff writer
A Norton teenager is dead after a police chase that started in New Franklin early Thursday morning ended in a single-vehicle crash in Barberton.
Seth Pallone, 15, was killed when he was ejected from a 2000 Chevrolet Impala. Two 14-year-old boys — one from Barberton and one from Springfield Township — were injured and transported to Akron Children’s Hospital. Their conditions were not available.
New Franklin police Lt. Ed Klein said the chase started near Vanderhoof and Grove roads, when an officer saw the Impala swerve left of center in front of another car, then back into its own lane. The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the Impala drove off at speeds exceeding 70 miles per hour, Klein said. The officer eventually lost sight of the Impala, but Barberton police were alerted that it was heading their way.
“We’ll never know, unless the other two kids talk, why they swerved in front of the other car,” Klein said.
Barberton police reported they began pursuit at Van Buren and Robinson avenues and found the Impala crashed four blocks north at North Van Buren and East Park avenues.
The driver of the Impala failed to negotiate a turn and struck a telephone pole before crashing down an embankment. It is not clear who was driving the vehicle.
The crash remains under investigation.
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ.