A 16-month-old child got thrown from the car and now lies in the hospital with serious injuries after the crash that killed Deven Wheat Jr. Wheat age 27 sat behind the wheel on East 55th Street when the two cars hit and his vehicle smashed into a pole. The force damaged the car badly and sent both out onto the street. Police arrived at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at East 55th and Cedar Avenue. Checks later found a bullet hole in the car and doctors at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center found Wheat had been shot before the crash. He did not survive. The other driver had no injuries. The matter is now a homicide case with the Accident Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Unit on it

A tragic and devastating incident occurred Thursday evening on East 55th Street and Cedar Avenue, resulting in the death of 27-year-old Deven Wheat Jr. and leaving a 16-month-old child seriously injured in the hospital. Wheat was seated behind the wheel when his vehicle was involved in a collision with another car. 

The impact was severe enough to crush Wheat’s vehicle into a pole, causing extensive damage and ejecting both vehicles onto the street. Police responded to the scene at approximately 6:30 p.m., finding the wreckage and beginning Further examination of Wheat’s vehicle revealed a troubling detail: a bullet hole in the car, indicating he had been shot prior to the crash. 

Medical personnel at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center confirmed that Wheat had sustained gunshot wounds, which likely contributed to the circumstances leading to the tragic accident. Despite emergency efforts, Wheat did not survive his injuries, and his death has been ruled a homicide as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and crash.

Adding to the tragedy, a 16-month-old child was ejected from the vehicle and is now hospitalized with serious injuries. The child's condition remains critical, and medical teams are providing urgent care. Thankfully, the other driver involved in the crash sustained no injuries, but the incident has raised significant concerns about violence and safety in the community.

Law enforcement agencies, including the Accident Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Unit, are actively investigating the case. Detectives are working to piece together the events that led to the shooting and crash, and they are searching for any potential witnesses or evidence. This heartbreaking event underscores the dangers of gun violence and traffic accidents, and the community mourns the loss of Deven Wheat Jr. while hoping for recovery for the young child.