Columbus handles arrests, fires

Three people including a battalion fire chief were struck by a car.
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Couches and mattresses were set on fire outside houses in Ohio State University student neighborhoods and three people were struck by a car following the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes' 24-7 win over No. 2 Texas.
There were 35 to 40 fires set in student neighborhoods Saturday night, said Columbus police Sgt. David Howson, whose department arrested about 17 people, five of them on arson charges. A trash bin also was set ablaze, burning two nearby cars, he said.
Battalion Fire Chief Kevin O'Connor said he was treated for bumps and bruises after he and two others were struck by a car that came through a temporary command post set up in the driveway of a student union building.
The two others, Ohio State assistant vice president for student affairs Barbara Rich and her husband, were treated early Sunday at Ohio State University Medical Center for minor injuries.
The driver of the car, George Karadimas, 22, a student at the school, has been charged with vehicular assault, Amweg said. He declined to comment on whether alcohol was involved.
Karadimas was being held in a Franklin County jail and is scheduled to appear in court this morning for an arraignment, said sheriff's deputy Travis Carter.
Most students still away
Most students haven't returned to campus because fall classes don't start until Sept. 20, Howson said. Still, police concentrated their patrols on the campus area last night.
"This happens on big games, so we were prepared for it," Howson said.
The victory kept the Buckeyes (2-0) in perfect position for a run to a college football national title. Texas, which saw its 21-game winning streak snapped, is the defending national champion.
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