North Olmsted Police Say Alcohol and Accidental Falls Led to Man’s Driveway Death

NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO — Local investigators believe the death of a 61-year-old man found in a residential driveway Saturday resulted from a tragic accident in which alcohol played a significant role. Jeffrey Ropp was discovered unresponsive alongside 66-year-old Donald Matthei at a home in the 26900 block of Kingston Circle. Ropp was pronounced dead at the scene. Matthei was transported to University Hospitals St. John Medical Center in Westlake. He later regained consciousness and provided detectives with a statement about the events leading up to the discovery. According to Detective Lt. Matt Beck of the North Olmsted Police, Matthei’s account helped clarify the timeline of the incident. The two men reportedly returned to the Kingston Circle home late Friday night. Matthei told police he slipped and fell in the driveway, causing him to lose consciousness. Investigators now believe Ropp tried to exit the passenger side of the truck to assist and also fell to the ground. The men remained outside for about 11 hours before a witness called emergency services at 8:04 a.m. Saturday. The North Olmsted Fire Department arrived to find both men on the pavement in a neighborhood just off Butternut Ridge Road, south of Lorain Road. Initial observations by first responders suggested the possibility of a physical altercation or injuries from a weapon, but police now say the injuries are consistent with a fall. Neighbors in the area did not report hearing anything unusual during the overnight hours. “Currently, this appears to be a tragic accident where alcohol was a factor and not a homicide,” Beck noted in an official update. He added that while detectives are still working to verify every part of the story, nothing found at the scene or through medical examinations has contradicted the account provided by Matthei. The North Olmsted Police Department is continuing its investigation as it awaits finalized medical reports from the medical examiner’s office. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.