Driver ID’d in head-on crash involving Dayton police cruiser

DAYTON — UPDATE @5:50 a.m: The driver of a Dodge Durango who was arrested after crashing into a Dayton police cruiser while attempting to flee a traffic stop Wednesday morning has been identified.

OTHER LOCAL NEWS: Traffic stop of car with no license plates in Dayton ends in arrest

Christopher Jones, 21, was arrested at the crash scene and booked into Montgomery County Jail just after 3:30 a.m., according to the jail site.

Jones’ charges include two counts of felonious assault and one failure to comply charge, records show.

Authorities say an officer tried to pull the SUV Jones was driving over on Cornell Drive for a minor traffic violation, but he fled and ended up crashing head-on into another police cruiser at the intersection of Philadelphia Drive just before 1 a.m.

The police cruiser that was struck was unrelated to the SUV’s traffic stop, and was responding to a different call at the time of the crash, authorities said.

The impact caused the Durango to end up on its side, while the police cruiser suffered front end damage.

Officials say speed is a likely factor in the wreck, though the crash still remains under investigation.

The Dayton police officer, whose name was not released, was not injured in the crash.

Jones’ next court appearance is scheduled for this afternoon.

INITIAL REPORT

A Dayton police cruiser was involved in a crash with another vehicle on Philadelphia Drive Wednesday morning, Regional dispatch confirms.

Initial reports indicate the crash occurred near Cornell Drive just before 1 a.m.

We’re on our way to the scene and will continue to update this story with additional details.