Ice not nice to Valley motorists

Ice-covered roads across the area Thursday morning proved to be hazardous for motorists — including those sworn to protect and serve.

A Youngstown police officer stopped to take a report about an accident along Interstate 680 at the Madison Avenue exit just after 8:30 a.m. Thursday. Before the officer could finish the report he became part of another accident.

Police say a woman slid into the back of the cruiser Officer Kenny Ruse was sitting in, writing the report. Ruse went to St. Elizabeth Health Center for observation after experiencing minor back pain. Police said the driver of the other car also went to the hospital with very minor injuries.

The police car was taken to the downtown police garage with rear-end damage.

Ohio State Highway Patrol dispatchers said that there were a couple slide-offs, but nothing serious reported Thursday morning.

In Austintown, safety officials say icy road conditions were to blame for two morning accidents on Kirk Road. One vehicle hit a tree. Around 9 a.m. an SUV slid off the road and rolled. Austintown firefighters were called to the scene to cut part of the roof off to extract the driver, according to reports.

The driver and her passenger, who climbed out of the car without help, were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center for treatment.