Woman, 18, charged in police chase

A Struthers police car was damaged in the chase.
By MARALINE KUBIK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- Police say they charged Ashley N. Phillips, 18, of State Street, with driving under suspension and failure to comply with the order of a police officer after she led them on a chase through Struthers, Youngstown and Austintown.
She came to a stop in Portage County after crashing her car on a highway exit ramp.
Police tried to initiate a traffic stop on Poland Avenue Monday when, the report says, Phillips accelerated, passed the car in front of her and led police through Struthers to Interstate 680.
Youngstown police joined the pursuit, following Phillips as she exited the Madison Avenue Expressway at Himrod Avenue and re-entered in the opposite direction. Youngstown police discontinued the chase at the Meridian Road exit of Interstate 680.
Pursuit in Austintown
Austintown police joined the pursuit as Phillips' vehicle entered their jurisdiction and continued as she entered Interstate 80, following it to I-76 and the Portage County line. At that point, two Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers joined the chase, the report states.
Police say Phillips crossed the grassy median of I-76, traveled west in the eastbound lane for about two miles before crossing back over and entering the exit ramp to state Route 14 where she lost control of her car, spun 180 degrees and struck a stop sign.
One of the Struthers cruisers involved in the pursuit struck the front of Phillips' vehicle, dislodging it from its resting place and causing it to roll backward down an embankment.
Phillips and her male passenger suffered minor injuries but refused treatment from the Edinburg Township fire and rescue team.
Phillips' passenger was released after providing a written statement. Phillips was held in Struthers City Jail pending her arraignment this morning.
Cruiser damaged
The Struthers police car involved in the chase suffered minor damage -- less than $200, according to Robert Norris, chief of police.
Youngstown police charged Phillips with failure to comply with the order of a police officer. Austintown police and troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol post in Portage County do not intend to pursue charges, leaving it to Struthers police, the initiating agency.
kubik@vindy.com