Woman sues WRTA

Woman sues WRTA

YOUNGSTOWN — A Selkirk Avenue woman has sued the Western Reserve Transit Authority and an unidentified driver for more than $25,000, claiming she was injured when her wheelchair overturned after a WRTA bus driver negligently failed to secure it. The suit was filed Tuesday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by Mary J. Ceci, who said the driver was inexperienced or inadequately trained before her wheelchair overturned while the bus was travelling on Edwards Street on Jan. 24, 2008. James Ferraro, the authority’s executive director, said all WRTA drivers are properly trained in wheelchair handling and that the claim has been referred to the Ohio Transit Risk Pool, which handles insurance matters for about 10 transit authorities, including WRTA. The case is assigned to Judge Lou A. D’Apolito.

Suit against Ohio Edison

YOUNGSTOWN — A landlord is suing the Ohio Edison Co. for more than $25,000, saying the utility negligently shut off electricity to one of his properties without notifying him Feb. 4, 2008, and left the doors wide open, causing the water pipes to freeze and burst in the unheated property. The lawsuit, filed Monday by Nick Warino, of NLW Properties of Austintown, said the utility shut off service to 2597-2607 Market St. at the request of a departing tenant and that Ohio Edison has denied liability for the landlord’s damage claim. The suit, which demands a jury trial, is assigned to Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Ohio Edison did not respond to a request for comment.

ODOT approves grant

NILES—The Ohio Department of Transportation has approved a $5.7 million grant to help fund the city’s long-planned bicycle trail.

The original projected cost had been $3.5 million, but replacement of a bridge over the Mahoning River near Walnut Street had complicated the project and increased the figure, according to Mark Hess, engineering grant and development coordinator.

“We had no bidders when we advertised last year because of concerns about the the bridge, so ODOT adjusted the amount,” Hess said, adding that the funding should cover the entire cost.

The coordinator said the city will advertise for bids next month, and he expects the path to be completed by summer 2011.

Teenager charged

WARREN — A 19-year-old city man has been charged with failure to control and driving under suspension after his car slid into a Warren police car Monday evening on Fairfield Avenue near Olive Street northeast.

Chance Wells, 19, of 867 Adams Avenue N.W. collided with the front of a stopped patrol car driven by Patrolman Brian Martinek about 10 p.m., said Trooper Howard Kraft of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Wells was northbound on Olive, attempted a right turn onto Fairfield, slid on ice and hit the patrol car, which was on Fairfield, Kraft said.

The cruiser suffered minor damage, and there were no injuries.

Tattoos for drugs

YOUNGSTOWN — A 27-year-old Hubbard man told police he was robbed at gunpoint of his tattoo equipment at a friend’s house on Oak Street in Youngstown.

The victim told police a friend called him offering to trade him drugs for tattoos. The victim agreed, but when he got to his friend’s house around 6:50 p.m. Tuesday, another man, whom he knows only by his first name, pointed a handgun at his face and demanded the tattoo equipment, according to a police report.

The Hubbard man turned over two tattoo machines, a power supply, tattoo inks and needles, the police report reads. The suspect wasn’t caught as of late Tuesday.

Man killed on North Side

YOUNGSTOWN — Police are searching for a suspect they believe killed a man.

Police said the suspected murderer is driving a 2000 Buick LaCross with Virginia license plates.

Police responded to a call about a shooting around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on the 400 block of Lexington Avenue on the city’s North Side.

The victim, whose name wasn’t released by police, was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth Health Center, a short distance from where he was found.

Police said they don’t believe the shooting occurred on Lexington and were trying to find the crime scene, the shooter and his car late Tuesday.