YOUNGSTOWN Man died of stab wounds

Doctors discovered the victim's wounds.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 51-year-old man, who crashed a vehicle while driving the wrong way on Interstate 680, died from stab wounds he suffered before the accident, police said.
Police said today that Mathew S. Saunders of Elberon Street, Salem, entered I-680 at the southbound Belle Vista and Connecticut avenues exit going the wrong way about 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Saunders swerved to avoid an oncoming car and hit a guard rail twice before wedging the vehicle into the rail. There was considerable damage to the left side of the 1985 Ford Econoline that Saunders was driving.
An officer spoke to Saunders, who was alert, but was slurring his speech so badly that the officer couldn't understand him.
Saunders had blood on his mouth, and a spilled beer on the dashboard had blood on it, police said. There was a strong smell of alcohol on Saunders' breath, and several empty beer cans in the car, police said.
Noticed injuries
Medics noticed that Saunders had injuries to his right abdomen, but believed they had been caused by the crash, police said.
But doctors at St. Elizabeth Health Center, where Saunders was taken, discovered that the injuries were stab wounds, police said.
Saunders died early Saturday after surgery as a result of four stab wounds, two to his abdomen and two to his back, police said. Police were told that Saunders told doctors that he was stabbed, but didn't give any further information.
Police are investigating the case as a homicide. If it is ruled a homicide, it would be the city's 19th this year. There were 33 homicides in Youngstown in 2002.
An autopsy will be done on the body this morning by the Mahoning County Coroner's Office.
skolnick@vindy.com