Police: Man Lost Tire In Crash But Still Drove Away

A Mentor man is accused of causing a crash and then driving away from it, even after his vehicle lost a tire.

The crash occurred on the 7100 block of Mentor Avenue Friday night.

A vehicle driving east went over the center line into the westbound lanes and sideswiped a car traveling west, according to the Mentor Police Facebook page.

The first vehicle then drove away.

Police then located that vehicle on Traymore Court. It had extensive damage, including a missing tire that was later found on Route 306 near Brownell Drive.

The man suspected of driving the vehicle -- 68-year-old William Thome Sr. -- is accused of driving drunk.

According to the Mentor Police Facebook page, ("Thome) stated he fled because he didn't want to get into trouble for another (charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicate.) Mr. Thome has two prior OVI convictions within the last six years."

Thome was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, according to department's Facebook page. He also faces charges of hit-skip and leaving the scene of a crash, according to Mentor Municipal Court documents.

Thome is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Mentor Municipal Court.