Chief doubts Ford design had role in fire

AUSTINTOWN — The township’s police chief says he’s doubtful a much-criticized design feature in Ford Crown Victoria Interceptors played a role in the fire that injured a township patrol officer in a Sunday morning crash.

“We’re looking into it,” said police Chief Bob Gavalier. “But I don’t think it has anything to do with it.”

Patrol officer Ross Linert, 48, a 12-year veteran of the force, was in the Akron Children’s Hospital burn unit in critical condition on Monday after his 2005 Crown Vic Interceptor was hit at high speed at 1:08 a.m. on North Meridian Road.

“The gas tank exploded,” Gavalier said Monday. “A wall of flame went right through from the rear to the front of the car.”

Linert, who managed to get out of the car himself, suffered burns over 30 to 40 percent of his body. He’s in an induced coma at the hospital, a township police report said.

For more, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com