Thursday, March 24, 2011
Staff report
NILES
Police say a 21-year-old Transfer, Pa., man died in a one-car accident Tuesday night on U.S. Route 422 across from the Eastwood Mall.
Shane Reagle of Hopper Road was taken to St. Joseph Health Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police say he has relatives in Niles, but they don’t know why he was in Niles.
Police say a witness in the nearby Burger King restaurant parking lot saw Reagle’s vehicle travel left of center as it headed west on Route 422, striking a utility pole and guardrail before overturning in a drainage ditch on the south side of the road.
About 21/2 feet of water was in the ditch, which travels under U.S. Route 422 and empties water into nearby Mosquito Creek.
The witness said there was no other car or other in the area around Reagle’s car to explain why his car went out of control, said John Marhulik, Niles traffic officer.
Police continue to investigate.
The vehicle was found on its top, the roof crushed in, and Reagle still restrained inside with a seat belt. Air bags had deployed. It was raining at the time, and the pavement was wet, Marhulik said.
The vehicle appeared to be traveling at about the posted speed limit — 35 miles per hour, Marhulik said.