One dead, one injured in motorcycle accident

One dead, one injured in motorcycle accident

BEAVER, Pa. — An East Liverpool woman was killed when the back tire on the motorcycle on which she was a passenger blew out, causing the bike to go out of control early Wednesday on state Route 60 in Beaver Township.

Katheryn Shafer, 59, of Moore Road was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:15 a.m. by the Beaver County coroner. The driver, Daniel L. Shafer, 58, of the same address on Moore Road in East Liverpool, was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he was in critical condition.

A Pennsylvania State Police report said the motorcycle was southbound on Route 60 when it went out of control and both riders were thrown off. The tires on the motorcycle were extremely worn, with the tire cords showing, and the back tire apparently blew out, officers said.

Police officer honors

YOUNGSTOWN — The annual Youngstown Police Department awards ceremony will be at 11:30 a.m. today at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church social hall on Via Mount Carmel. More than 50 officers will be recognized for their service.

Pa. collision injures one

HERMITAGE, Pa. — A man was injured when he cut off a car while leaving a driveway, police reported.

Police said a car driven by William Austin, 71, of Wallis Avenue, Farrell, was leaving a private drive on North Hermitage Road when it pulled into the path of a southbound car driven by Roy Kerry, 70, of Cardinal Drive, Sharpsville. The accident happened at 2:14 p.m. Tuesday.

Kerry was not injured. Austin was taken by helicopter to St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown. Police said his condition was stable.

Sex in car, loaded gun

YOUNGSTOWN — Police found a loaded gun in a car after police found the vehicle’s occupants engaged in a sex act late Tuesday night on the South Side.

The driver, Alex Weiss, 35, of East Myrtle Avenue was charged with improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, soliciting and slow speed. He was arraigned Wednesday in municipal court and bond was set at $10,000.

His passenger, Roberta S. Thomas, 40, of West Lucius Avenue was charged with prostitution and also served with an outstanding warrant for loitering for prostitution that was issued April 24. She was released on her own recognizance at her arraignment.

Members of the Street Crimes Unit who came upon Weiss’ car on Overland Avenue said it failed to proceed through the intersection at Falls Avenue. Officers observed the sex act between the two, reports show. The .22-caliber handgun was found near the center console.

Car hits home; man hurt

WARREN — Randy L. Hackenson, 37, of North Road, pleaded innocent Wednesday in municipal court to charges of drunken driving, failure to comply with the order of a police officer, speeding and not wearing a seat belt after driving his car into a house.

According to the police report, an officer attempted to stop Hackenson for speeding shortly after 2 a.m. Wednesday on Youngstown Road. Hackenson attempted to evade police on side streets. His car failed to negotiate a curve at Westview Drive and Kenilworth Avenue and struck the side of a house at 1567 Westview. Hackenson was treated at St. Joseph Health Center. He is free after posting a $3,500 bond. A pretrial hearing will be June 5.

Friday is Respect Day

YOUNGSTOWN — The third annual Respect Day will be noon Friday at the Mahoning County Courthouse, 120 Market St. Tri-County Family Violence Prevention Coalition is sponsoring the event. Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County Juvenile Court is slated to speak.

Gov. Ted Strickland has declared May as Family Violence Prevention Month and is asking all Ohioans to “promote respect toward all persons.”