Charges pending in Youngstown fatal accident

YOUNGSTOWN — Charges are pending against the driver of a Pontiac that pinned a 39-year-old pedestrian against East Side Civics and killed her, accident investigator said.

Detective Sgt. Patricia Garcar identified the victim as Helen Mrosko of East Boston Avenue.

Garcar said Mrosko, who worked at Belleria Pizza in Cornersburg, had just got off a bus on South Avenue and was walking on the sidewalk toward a tavern to meet her boyfriend on Tuesday afternoon when the accident took place.

A 2003 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Brandy Robinson, 18, of Willis Avenue was traveling eastbound on East Philadelphia Avenue and failed to stop for the stop sign at South Avenue, Garcar said. The Pontiac then struck a 2001 Dodge Neon traveling north on South Avenue before pinning Mrosko against the bar/restaurant building at 2929 South Ave.

The Dodge was driven by Yaschica Shipman, 29, of West Boulevard, Boardman. No serious injuries were reported.

Garcar said once her investigation is complete she will present her findings to City Prosecutor Jay Macejko and charges will be filed, likely next week, against Robinson. Robinson received her driver’s license in December 2007, the investigator said.

Neither driver applied brakes, Garcar said.

“It was a freak accident to be on the sidewalk at the time of the accident, she wouldn’t have seen it coming because no brakes were squealing,” Garcar said. She doesn’t suspect drugs or alcohol were involved.

Mahoning County Coroner David M. Kennedy has ruled the death an accident.