Man wrecks after fleeing from police

YOUNGSTOWN — Andre Bankston, 20, of the 4000 block of Westchester Drive, Austintown, was in stable condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center on Sunday night after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving as he fled from police.

Police on routine patrol observed a maroon Chevy Impala turn west onto Indianola Avenue about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, and the vehicle matched the description of a car that had been reported hijacked in Austintown earlier.

Police made a traffic stop, but Bankston sped away at a high rate of speed, police said. He failed to negotiate the curve at Indianola and Glenwood and hit a telephone pole at the northwest corner of the intersection. Bankston crawled out of the wreck and had a broken leg.

Police said they searched the vehicle and found a loaded handgun with 15 rounds of ammunition, and one in the chamber with the hammer cocked. Police said they also found a bag of marijuana on Bankston. He was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property, failure to control, possession of marijuana and failure to comply with order of police.

Austintown police did not have a completed report on the incident.