Coitsville begins investigation into crash with new cruiser

Staff report

COITSVILLE

Township police can begin their investigation into last week’s crash on Youngstown’s East Side involving a brand-new police cruiser and another car now that Youngstown police, who were investigating the accident, have returned the cruiser’s dashboard camera and recording equipment.

Chief Mike Morris of the Coitsville Police Department said the next step of the internal investigation is using that equipment to figure out just exactly who stole the car that caused the accident.

Officer Donald Dudley crashed the cruiser at McGuffey Road and Lansdowne Boulevard while pursuing a stolen car in Youngstown last Wednesday.

“We’ll be gathering evidence for the crime and seeing exactly what happened,” Morris said. “We want to get some clarification on the suspects’ faces and vehicle.”

Morris said he didn’t yet have a time line in mind for the township police department’s investigation, but added that it “could be a while.”

The driver of the other car, Renee McConnell of Hubbard, is in stable condition at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Morris said.