Driver charged in crash that hospitalized three kids

YOUNGSTOWN — Police today charged Dontae Hubbert, 20, of Youngstown for his suspected involvement in a Thursday night crash on the city's North Side that sent three small children to St. Elizabeth Health Center.

Detective Sgt. Rick Alli, police department spokesman, said Hubbert was arrested   after an investigation of a hit-skip crash on Granada Avenue near Cordova Avenue.

Alli said Hubbert admitted to being involved in the crash around 7:30 p.m. and left the scene on foot. Hubbert later contacted a city detective to surrender at 10:10 p.m. At the police station, Hubbert told the detective he had been in a crash and mentioned being chased by police. He then invoked his right to an attorney, and the interview ended, Alli said. Earlier reports said the chase began in Liberty, with police there pursuing a driver into Youngstown.

After consulting with City Prosecutor Jay Macejko, police charged Hubbert with three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, leaving the scene of an accident, driving under suspension, mishandling a firearm in a motor vehicle, and receiving stolen property. The car Hubbert was driving was reported stolen, and police found a gun in the vehicle, which was involved in the accident on Granada Avenue on the city's North Side.

Hubbert was taken to Mahoning County jail and is scheduled for arraignment on the charges later today.

The children, ages 3,6 and 6, remain in the hospital. Their conditions were unavailable. The children were playing in a yard when they were struck. The car police chased sideswiped a disabled vehicle on Granada, hit a tree, then struck the children.