Man to face charges in Warren crash

By ED RUNYAN

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

A city man was to be transferred from Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital to the Trumbull County jail Friday night to await formal charges Monday in a car accident that occurred on Genesee Avenue Northeast as he fled from a police officer, police said.

William A. Harris, 34, of Fairview Avenue, was pulled over by an officer about 1:45 p.m. Friday on Genesee Avenue just south of Elm Road and was about to be arrested on two warrants when he fled, police said.

Traffic was stopped at a red light ahead at East Market Street and Genesee, and Harris’ car swerved left into oncoming traffic at the intersection, hitting the front of a northbound van driven by a woman.

Harris and the woman were injured and taken to Forum Health TMH. The woman’s name and condition were not available Friday night.

Harris fled on foot after the accident, but he was arrested within moments of the crash with some help from a restaurant owner working nearby, police said.

Mathew Adams, 26, of Warren, was working inside his Mathew’s Carryout and Delivery inside the Knights of Columbus Hall when he heard the crash.

Adams, who received training at the police academy at Kent State University Trumbull Campus in Champion and wants to be a police officer, said he saw Harris trying to run away.

“When I saw him go, I went after him,” Adams said, adding that Harris wasn’t running very fast and appeared to be disoriented.

A short distance away, Adams yelled at Harris to “get on the ground,” and Harris complied. The Warren officer was there momentarily to make the arrest, Adams said.

Casey McKee said she was sitting in the southbound traffic on Genesee, waiting at the red light, when Harris’ car came up behind her, narrowly avoided hitting the back of her car and then swerved left and hit the front of the van.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is handling the accident investigation.