Avon Lake Grad Killed at Lakewood Area Festival

An graduate was killed July 29 after a car crashed through the “Dancin’ in the Street” fair in Cleveland, at the Lakewood border.

Mitch Andelmo, class of 2003, died last night, according to MetroHealth Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Andelmo was at the event, one of Cleveland's largest LGBT fundraisers run by the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland, on Sunday night. NewsNet5.com said a man with three prior drunk driving convictions drove through a street barricade and into the crowd on Clifton Avenue at approximately 7 p.m. between West 116th and West 117th avenues.

Andelmo was reportedly with his girlfriend, Constance Pokorny, who was also struck and injured along with three others.

The Plain Dealer reported that the man behind the wheel was Timothy Spock, of Lakewood, however no official charges were filed as of Sunday night. Police arrested the driver who they said has three prior DUIs. Lakewood Police assisted with the accident.

Andelmo was remembered by former Avon Lake High School Counselor Eileen Wozniak as being a “really nice kid.”

“He was a very bright, brilliant kid,” Wozniak said. “A really nice kid.”

At Avon Lake High School, Andelmo was a member of the Model UN club, Academic Challenge and the Diversity Club.

His father Henry Andelmo, owner of , still resides in Avon Lake. 

He posted a tribute to his son on Facebook after midnight.

“A very tragic day,” the post said. “My son Mitch was killed today by a drunk driver. The driver plowed into a crowd of people in Cleveland at a festival on Clifton at W117. I will miss you Mitch. I loved you. you were my best friend and the greatest son a man could ever want and have. May you live forever in peoples hearts!”

Several sources have reported Andelmo as living in Lakewood at the time of his death, although police reports list his address as Electric Boulevard, in Avon Lake.

He graduated from Concordia University and according to his Facebook page, worked at PC Helps Support LLC.

Check back to Avon-Avon Lake Patch for updates.