Car that killed Cleveland police officer in crash

Cleveland police released this photo of the car that hit and killed a Cleveland police officer on Interstate 90.

(Cleveland Police Department)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams on Tuesday delivered a brief but strong message to the driver who hit and killed a police officer on Interstate 90 and drove off.

"Turn yourself in or we will find you," Williams said Tuesday, some three hours after one of his officers was killed while setting road flares about 6 a.m. on Interstate 90 westbound.

The crash killed officer David Fahey, 39. He was hired in July 2014 and was an officer in the city's First District.

The car that hit Fahey is a white Toyota with a gray stripe on both sides of the car and a spoiler on the back. It has front-end damage and has a partial license plate of GTD. Investigators are searching for the car.

Fahey's family has a history in law enforcement, officials said. His stepfather was a Cleveland police officer and his mother also worked in law enforcement, Williams said.

Fahey was setting road flares on I-90 near Warren Road in order to divert traffic for a fatal crash in Rocky River in which a driver crashed into the back of a fire truck responding to a third traffic crash, police said.

Cleveland officials gathered at the hospital and offered their condolences to the Fahey's family.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Fahey family, who, this morning, lost their loved one in this tragic and senseless act," Mayor Frank Jackson said in a statement. "No words can express the sorrow and pain the Fahey are experiencing right now and no family should have to go through such a loss."

Police believe they may have located the involved Toyota in Lorain, Cleveland police union president Steve Loomis said. Officers are now investigating that possible connection on West 31st Street in Lorain.

This post will be updated.

cleveland.com reporter Courtney Astolfi contributed to this post.