Truck driver found at bottom of ravine following police pursuit, manhunt, in Ohio

A semi truck driver is hospitalized and facing charges following a bizarre series of events that occurred in Ohio on Thursday.

The incident began around 3 p.m. on May 11 after the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OHSP) received a call about a semi truck driver brandishing a weapon at a vehicle repair worker on I-271 northbound in Granger Township.

When OSHP arrived at the scene, they found that the truck driver had disconnected the trailer and fled the scene. The trailer was left parked on the shoulder of the interstate.

Officers caught up to the truck but the driver refused to stop and a pursuit began, crossing over from Medina County into Summit County.

The pursuit ended when police deployed stop sticks.

After hitting the stop sticks, the truck struck a guardrail and a police cruiser.

The truck driver exited the cab and fled on foot into a wooded area.

Police initiated a manhunt in the wooded area, setting up a perimeter and using a plane to locate the truck driver.

Around 6:45 p.m. on Thursday, officers found the truck driver unconscious at the bottom of a ravine, reportedly in possession of a firearm. He was hospitalized with serious injuries.

WOIO reports that charges are pending.

A stretch of I-271 was closed for about four hours for the police pursuit and manhunt, but all lanes reopened by 8:30 p.m.