COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus woman is facing charges after she allegedly backed into a deputy's cruiser and crashed into a COTA bus stop and utility pole near the Milo-Grogan neighborhood Friday morning.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was parked at a gas station in the 2700 block of Cleveland Avenue around 3:30 a.m. while he was waiting on an unrelated vehicle to be towed out of a traffic stop.
The suspect was backing up from a parking spot and struck the deputy's cruiser. The suspect then drove down Cleveland Avenue at speeds up to 90 mph, according to the sheriff's office.
The sheriff's office said deputies pursued the vehicle for a short time when the driver then crashed into a COTA bus stop and utility pole at Cleveland and East 4th avenues.
Five people in the vehicle, including a 2-year-old child, were hospitalized. Four of the people were injured. The child was hospitalized as a precaution.
The suspect, 20-year-old Raeshawna Pippen, of Columbus, was charged with felony fleeing and child endangerment.
According to the sheriff's office, the deputy did not know there was a child in the car. Had he known, he would not have pursued the vehicle.
A gun was also found in the car.
The sheriff's office said more charges are pending as the investigation continues.