Priest paralyzed after accident
Staff report
new middletown
The Rev. Stephen Popovich of St. Paul the Apostle Church in New Middletown is paralyzed from the waist down in the aftermath of a car accident last week.
Father Popovich, 58, is in St. Elizabeth Health Center and underwent successful surgery Thursday. He is in stable condition and coherent, a church spokeswoman said.
Father Popovich was on his way to the Ohio State Penitentiary to minister to prisoners last Wednesday when he hit a patch of ice on Struthers Road. The ice caused him to slide, then a pickup truck struck his vehicle, and his vehicle hit a tree.
The Rev. Nick Shori, former pastor at St. Paul, took over for Father Popovich in his absence.
There will be a prayer service for Father Popovich at 7 p.m. on Sunday, his 59th birthday, at St. Paul.