Wrongful-death lawsuit filed in 2011 Ellsworth Twp. crash

YOUNGSTOWN — The estate of a 19-year-old Warren woman, who died of injuries she suffered in a March 1, 2011, accident at state Route 45 and Leffingwell Road in Ellsworth Township, has sued the other driver in the crash, saying he negligently caused her death.

The lawsuit was filed last week in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court by the estate of Michelle A. Mayle against David B. Dezee, 54, of South Lipkey Road, North Jackson.

Dezee was northbound at 6:55 p.m. on Route 45, when his pickup truck hit the car Mayle was driving west on Leffingwell, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Dezee was not injured.

“It is a very sad subject for me,” Dezee said when a reporter informed him of the lawsuit today. “I am completely shocked,” Dezee added, declining further comment because he had not seen the lawsuit.

Besides Dezee, the lawsuit lists five unknown John Doe defendants.

The crash occurred after a $1.4 million Ohio Department of Transportation project in 2010, which replaced two culverts and was designed to upgrade safety by improving sight distances in the intersection.

The lawsuit, which seeks more than $25,000 in damages, is assigned to Judge Lou A. D’Apolito.