COLUMBIANA CO. Salem police to charge driver

One man is dead and another is still hospitalized.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- City police plan to file charges today against a city man accused of running over two men, killing one of them, at 2 a.m. Thursday after an argument outside a bar.
The driver, Aaron Catlin, 29, of South Union Avenue, was taken into custody by police early Thursday at his home.
Catlin had an injury to his forehead, possibly caused by the impact of the collision, police said.
He was taken to Salem Community Hospital for treatment. A hospital spokesperson said the hospital had no information on Catlin.
Frank E. Gardner, 24, of Aetna Street, died after being taken to Akron City Hospital.
Marc Finley, 21, of Andrew Avenue, is in St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown. He was in the surgical intensive care unit today. No report was available on his condition.
Police said they received a report of a fight outside Scanlon's, a bar on East State Street, about 1:39 a.m. Thursday. Police said they found there had been a verbal dispute but no fight, and that the people involved had left.
Gardner and Finley walked north on North Ellsworth Avenue.
Report received
Police said an Oldsmobile came out of a parking lot and struck the two men near the Salem Plaza on East Second Street. A police officer parked in the plaza saw the vehicle hit the men and keep going.
Perry Township police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined the search for the vehicle, which was found in the parking lot of a funeral home. Police Chief C.M. Weitz said the vehicle was locked. It has been impounded.
Troopers then went to Catlin's home and found him sitting on the front steps. He was taken to the hospital because of his injury.
wilkinson@vindy.com