State patrol investigates double fatal accident on Route 46

YOUNGSTOWN — The Canfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is still trying to determine how two elderly people died in a four-car accident.

The accident occurred at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday on state Route 46 in Beaver Township.

Lewis Morris, 80, and Elizabeth Morris, 77, both of Leetonia, were pronounced dead at the scene by the Mahoning County Coroner’s office.

According to police, Ashley Ratkowski, 23, of Austintown, was driving a Dodge Caliber north on Route 46 and Thomas Johnson, 49, of Warren was driving a tractor in the same direction. Lewis and Elizabeth Morris were in the 2000 Ford pickup truck southbound on Route 46. William Naughton, 61, of Columbiana also was traveling in a 2000 Dodge Intrepid south along the same road.

Reports say Ratkowski traveled left of center striking the truck driven by Lewis Morris, causing the truck to go left of center and strike the tractor driven by Johnson. Ratkowski, according to reports, continued forward striking the car driven by Naughton.

Ratkowski and Johnson were taken to the hospital with non- life- threatening injuries.