A Canton man is facing multiple charges after police say he drove recklessly and caused a crash that seriously injured another driver Friday morning on Cleveland Avenue NW.
According to a Canton Police report obtained by Jordan Miller News, officers were dispatched March 20 to the area of Cleveland Avenue NW and 30th Street NW for a crash with injuries.
When officers arrived, Canton Fire, medics and a Stark County deputy were already on scene. The deputy told arriving officers the driver of a black Chevrolet Suburban had been acting abnormally and making suicidal statements before being removed from the vehicle. The deputy detained him in handcuffs prior to police arrival, according to the report.
Police identified the suspect as Mitchell Ujcich.
Investigators said multiple witnesses reported Ujcich was traveling at a very high rate of speed along Cleveland Avenue NW. Canton Fire medics also observed the vehicle northbound near 25th Street NW at a high rate of speed and began following due to concerns about his behavior and the potential for a crash.
Witnesses told police Ujcich rear-ended a Subaru Legacy driven by Riley Fast just north of the intersection of Cleveland Avenue NW and 30th Street NW. Fast had just turned onto Cleveland Avenue from 30th Street when the crash occurred.
Police said the force of the collision pushed Fast’s vehicle off the roadway and into a utility pole and the frame of a business sign. She was transported to Mercy Hospital with serious injuries.
A GoFundMe page created for Fast said she suffered significant injuries, including those requiring back surgery, and faces a lengthy recovery. The fundraiser states Fast is self-employed and relies on her vehicle for work, and is expected to be unable to work for at least six weeks while dealing with medical and living expenses.
According to the report, officers found a loaded handgun on the passenger seat of Ujcich’s vehicle, along with shell casings, ammunition and magazines.
Investigators also obtained city camera footage, dash camera video and surveillance footage from nearby businesses that police said corroborated witness accounts of Ujcich’s driving behavior leading up to the crash.
Officers later spoke with Ujcich’s wife, who told police her husband had not been acting like himself that morning. She reported he made suicidal statements, drove erratically, struck his own mailbox and sped away prior to the crash.
Ujcich was taken to Aultman Hospital for minor injuries. Officers noted abnormal speech and what appeared to be an altered mental state. He told officers he did not recall the incident, according to the report.
Police said Ujcich was transported to the Stark County Jail after being released from the hospital.
He is charged with felonious assault and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, both felonies. He also faces misdemeanor charges of reckless operation and assured clear distance.
Investigators sought a search warrant for Ujcich’s medical records, citing concerns he may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash.
The case remains under investigation.
