Cleveland police announced on Wednesday, October 21, the arrest of 26-year-old Tyrelle Taylor in the fatal hit-skip crash that killed cyclist William Mays, 35, on Sunday, October 18. WKYC 3News reported that Taylor turned himself in to police on Wednesday morning, less than three days after the crash.

Source: WJW / FOX 8 News

According to Cleveland police, the incident began shortly after Sunday's Browns game, when officers directing traffic near West 6th Street noticed a pickup truck driver squealing his tires. Police spokesman Sgt. Diaz said officers approached the vehicle twice and tried to get the driver to stop, but he ignored their commands and drove left of centre.

Source: WKYC 3News

Police say the driver then struck another vehicle before continuing toward West 9th Street and Superior Avenue, where he hit several more vehicles and lost a tire. Despite that, he continued across the Detroit-Superior Bridge and, shortly before 5 p.m., struck Mays as he rode his bicycle near West 25th Street and Detroit Avenue in the Ohio City area.

Source: WKYC 3News

Officers at the scene tried to help Mays before Cleveland EMS took him to MetroHealth Medical Center, where he died. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office identified him as William Mays, 35, of Cleveland. The driver fled on foot, and police recovered the black Ford F-150 at the scene.

Investigators had released a picture of the suspect and asked the public for help identifying him. Announcing the arrest, Sgt. Diaz credited the community's role: the arrest in under three days, he said, highlights the growing collaboration between the community and police, and he thanked officers and detectives for their work. Police said their thoughts remain with Mays' family and friends.

Police also said Taylor is suspected of involvement in other hit-skip crashes involving multiple vehicles in downtown Cleveland on the same day. The allegations against him are police accusations at this stage, and the reports announcing the arrest did not list the formal charges filed; the investigation is continuing.