CARLISLE TWP. — Three teens were in an Oldsmobile Aurora that crashed just after 9 p.m. Tuesday, rolling side-over-side and slamming into a tree in the front yard of an Elyria police officer.

“They were fighting the curve the whole way,” said Officer Ben Currier, pointing to the upended car, which landed on its side with a crushed roof.

At least one of the boys was badly hurt and bleeding from his head, Highway Patrol Trooper Jeff Kaess said. Two of the teens were taken to EMH Regional Medical Center for treatment, and their conditions were unavailable Tuesday night.

The accident happened between Brianwood Drive and Sandpiper Avenue in the section of East River Road that runs off of Chestnut Ridge Road and connects with Dewhurst Road.

Ken Hensley, who lives on East River Road, said he heard what sounded like several crashes and tearing metal as the car bounced into a ditch on the east side of the road and ricocheted into the tree.

“I was sitting in my living room and heard the throttle wide open. I knew he wasn’t going to make that curve,” he said.

Hensley said he raced to dial 911 after a teenage boy ran into his yard sobbing, “I think somebody’s dead.”

Hensley’s wife, Andrea Hensley, said the curve is in a 35 mph zone, but all too often, teens try to see how fast they can maneuver it.

“They use this as a drag strip,” she said. “You see wine bottles, beer bottles thrown out of the cars. They come zipping through here and don’t care there are little children in our neighborhood.”

In the 11 years since the Hensleys have lived on East River, they said they have helped pull several cars out of the ditch on the opposite side of the street from their house.

Ken Hensley said there were caution arrows marking the curve, but they disappeared about five years ago and never were replaced.

“It’s a deceptive curve,” he said. “It can catch you off guard if you don’t live around here.”

Contact Jason Hawk at 329-7148 or jhawk@chroniclet.com.

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