Man charged after chase, accident

STAFF REPORT

STRUTHERS — A 30-year-old New Middletown man is under arrest after a chase that began here and ended in a two-car accident in Youngstown.

Struthers police said a patrol officer spotted Pablo Valentin of East Calla Road speeding at 40 mph in a 25-mph zone shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday. The officer stopped Valentin’s vehicle at State Street near Walton Avenue.

As the officer pulled behind Valentin’s car, the suspect sped away on Poland Avenue. The chase continued with Valentin entering Youngstown and onto East Florida Avenue.

As Valentin’s car rolled through a stop sign at the street’s intersection with Shady Run Road, it struck an oncoming vehicle that was traveling northbound on Shady Run. His car skidded out of control, flipped onto the driver’s side and struck a utility pole in the 900 block of East Florida Avenue, police said.

The Struthers officer saw Valentin exiting from the rear window of his car and handcuffed him and placed him under arrest.

When the officer went to check on the other vehicle that was struck by Valentin’s car, Valentin took off down the street.

East Florida Avenue residents chased Valentin while the officer continued to check the status of the victims, according to the police report. There were no major injuries, and the victims waited for paramedics to arrive.

Residents apprehended Valentin behind St. Matthias School on nearby Cornell Street, and police took him into custody.

The victims and Valentin were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. Valentin consented to a blood test and his blood-alcohol concentration level was 0.10, police said. The legal limit for alcohol intoxication is 0.08. He also tested positive for marijuana use, police said.

Police charged Valentin with driving under suspension, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failure to comply with a police officer’s order or signal.

No court date has been set.