YSU coach in car crash

YSU coach in car crash

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are investigating an accident involving Jon Heacock, the Youngstown State University head football coach.

The accident happened at 10:44 a.m. Friday at Belmont Avenue and Eastbound Service Road on the city’s North Side, according to police reports.

Police reported that Heacock, 48, of Canfield, who was driving a Chevrolet Tahoe, struck the passenger side of a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Kayla McCann, 22, of Niles.

Heacock told police he didn’t see the red light at the intersection. Police said the light appeared to be working. They are continuing to investigate.

Heacock and McCann were transported by ambulance to St. Elizabeth Health Center, police said.

The hospital would not comment on either victim’s condition. A YSU spokesman, however, said Heacock did not appear to be seriously injured.

Part of New Road closed

AUSTINTOWN — A section of New Road, between Raccoon and Meridian roads, will be closed until permanent road repairs can be made.

Marilyn Kenner, Mahoning County’s chief deputy engineer, said a faulty drainage system in a bend on New Road has been causing pothole and water drainage problems for some time. The road closed Thursday, and she said the road will stay closed for six to eight weeks, until permanent fixes can be made. “We can’t keep enough cold mix down because of the drainage problem,” Kenner said.

Purse snatching

YOUNGSTOWN — A 51-year-old Boardman woman told police a man ran up behind her and snatched her purse on Berkley Avenue.

The woman said the robbery happened at 12:10 p.m. Friday. She didn’t see a gun, but the man kept his hand in his pocket as if he had one, she told police.

The woman’s purse contained $400 and medicines.

Pit bull rescued

YOUNGSTOWN — A pit bull left alone in a house on East Myrtle Avenue was rescued by deputy dog wardens and taken to Animal Charity on South Avenue, police said.

The fire department was called to the house to gain entry Thursday, after receiving permission from the city prosecutor. The resident suffered a stroke and has been hospitalized for almost two weeks, a deputy dog warden said.

Safety zone citation

YOUNGSTOWN — A 27-year-old Boardman man who drove through a barricade placed near a live wire on Belmont Avenue was issued a citation that charges driving through an established safety zone.

Police said Christopher Stevens, of Aravesta Avenue, drove past the barricaded zone at Redondo Road on Thursday. He told police that he didn’t see the live wire that was lying across both southbound lanes and extending from the double yellow lines and up over the hoods of two cars in a muffler company parking lot.

Stevens is due in municipal court Wednesday for arraignment.

Suspect in robbery

BOARDMAN — A Pittsburgh woman was in the Mahoning County Jail, accused of a December robbery at a township motel.

Boardman police picked up Marie Brooks, 30, on Thursday afternoon at the Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh. Brooks, who was wanted on a warrant accusing her of aggravated robbery, was apprehended by members of the U.S. Marshals Task Force.

A 28-year-old Youngstown man told police that he met a woman early Dec. 21 at a Hilda Street bar, and she invited him to the Tower Motel, Market Street, where she was staying. When the pair went into the motel room, a man struck him in the head and then pointed a gun in his face. He was beaten, and the two robbers took $400 cash, a cell phone, gold chain and an earring from him before leaving him in the motel room.

Brooks was being held on a $25,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for March 17 in Mahoning County Court here.

Tod Homestead cleanup

YOUNGSTOWN — The annual cleanup of Tod Homestead Cemetery takes place March 15. All decorations will be removed at that time. Anyone wishing to recover their decorations must do so before the 15th, cemetery officials said.