METRO DIGEST || Masury motorcyclist critical after crash with pickup

Motorcyclist critical

BROOKFIELD

Motorcyclist Kurt Betts, 47, of Masury, was in critical condition Thursday after he was injured in a Wednesday evening crash with a pickup truck on Warren-Sharon Road.

Betts remained in St. Elizabeth Health Center Thursday afternoon, but an update on his condition was not available, a hospital spokesperson said. The OSHP Southington Post reported that the collision occurred at Brookfield Avenue at 10:16 p.m. and asks anyone who witnessed it to call the post at 330-898-2311.

Police said the pickup driver, Sandra Elrod of Masury, swerved to avoid another vehicle that turned left in front of her. Betts was injured in the crash that ensued, police said. No information was available on Elrod. Brookfield police and paramedics assisted at the scene.

Panel receives grant

NILES

The Niles Area Business Council of Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber has presented a $25,000 check to the REIN (Renovating Excellence in Niles) Committee for renovations to Niles McKinley High School’s Bo Rein Stadium. In appreciation, the stadium band shell will be named for the chamber and council. The first phase of the renovations will focus on installing new turf and paving parts of the stadium at a cost of about $800,000. Phase 2 will include new locker rooms and restrooms, a new entrance and fencing, new scoreboard, press box and seating, including chair backs on the home side. The total project cost will be about $2.5 million.

Man pleads guilty

WARREN

Christopher A. Brown, 31, of Dekalb, Ga., pleaded guilty in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court to felonious assault and gross sexual imposition. He will be sentenced to up to 91/2 years in prison in about five weeks, after the Trumbull County Adult Probation Department conducts a presentence investigation. Brown committed the crimes against a 17-year-old girl at her home in Mineral Ridge in June 2009, prosecutors said. He was indicted on two counts of rape involving force or threat of force.

2 injured in crash

new castle, Pa.

Two victims of a car accident on Wilmington Road were in fair condition Thursday at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, the hospital reported. Andrea M. Walters of Hermitage, Pa., was a passenger in one of the two cars involved, driven by Gary D. Malinowski Jr., also of Hermitage, and Janet K. Kurtanich of Sharon, Pa., was the driver of the other car. St. Elizabeth Health Center would not give information on Malinowski’s condition Thursday. Neshannock Township police said Malinowski was driving north on Wilmington Road about 5 p.m. Wednesday when he went left of center and hit Kurtanich’s car head-on. The cars were severely damaged. Police are investigating to determine if charges will be filed.