Police Blotter: 7-Car Crash; Midnight Yardwork; Vomiting Panhandler

Seven vehicles were involved in three crashes on southbound I-71 Aug. 10 that started when a woman lost control of her vehicle and flipped.

The other two occurred within minutes as traffic slowed.

Reports said a North Royalton driver lost control over her car about 11:50 a.m. between the Pearl and Royalton road exits, going off the right side of the road and then flipping, with the vehicle landing on its side.

Minutes later, a second collision -- this one involving four vehicles -- was reported. Police said a Cleveland woman failed to stop as traffic slowed at the crash site, plowing into the back of the car in front of her and starting a chain reaction that pushed that car into another, and the third car into a fourth.

At about the same time, a third accident took place when one motorist stopped for the traffic and the driver behind her couldn't brake in time.

Three of the people reported injuries. Reports indicated no one was seriously hurt.

The woman driving the car that flipped was not injured.

Midnight Digging

Police were called to Howe Road near Shurmer Road about 12:30 a.m. Aug. 12 about a man digging with a shovel.

Officers spoke with the man, who lives on Howe and said he couldn't sleep, so he decided to come out and clean up the area.

Bad Meat, Throwing Up and Begging

Witnesses called police to about 12:50 a.m. Aug. 11 about a couple asking people for money because they were out of gas.

The man also kept vomiting, a report said.

Officers found him returning to the lot with a can of gasoline. He said they had come to the store to return some bad meat, but didn't have a receipt.

He gave permission to search the car, and nothing illicit was found, the report said.

They were warned about panhandling.

Lost Child at Mall

There were some tense moments at Aug. 10 when a woman reported her 9-year-old grandson missing.

A report said the two were in . about 5:20 p.m. and she left, thinking the boy was behind her.

When she reached the food court, she realized he was not with her and alerted security.

The boy had stayed in the shoe store, and was still there when officers returned to look for him.

Break-in on Bridle Trail

A Bridle Trail resident reported Aug. 12 that someone had broken into a closed garage and stolen his girlfriend's purse and cell phone from the car inside.