Cops: Austintown man died after jumping from car

January 7, 2012 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Police have determined that a 30-year-old Austintown man who was killed in an accident on the Rayen Avenue bridge this week was injured after jumping from a moving car.

Johnny Serrano was pronounced dead at the scene of the 4:05 p.m. Wednesday accident on the bridge near Oak Street. The coroner determined he died from blunt-force injuries to the head.

Youngstown police at first were perplexed as to how Serrano ended up outside the car in which he was traveling. Police Lt. Bill Ross said the department took possession of the car and interviewed witnesses to determine what happened.

“It appears he did jump from the vehicle of his own free will. We don’t believe he intended to die, but his death was an accidental result of jumping from the car,” Ross said.

Serrano is believed to have been arguing with his girlfriend, who also was in the car, when he jumped from the moving vehicle.

Ross said police have determined the girlfriend did nothing wrong, and there likely will be no charges.

Serrano, five years ago, was involved in another accident that killed his younger brother. He pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in that case and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Johnny Serrano’s brother, Edward, 17, a junior at The Rayen School, died in a Poland Avenue crash in which Johnny Serrano was behind the wheel. Serrano lost control of the vehicle the evening of Oct. 11, 2006, and struck a pole near Youngstown Tool & Die Co. The car then burst into flames.

Authorities said the elder Serrano’s blood-alcohol content was nearly double the legal limit of 0.08 at the time of the crash.