METRO DIGEST || 2 South Side arsons
2 South Side arsons
YOUNGSTOWN
Two vacant house fires on the South Side within a couple of hours of each other Tuesday were intentionally set, according to fire reports.
A fire at a 339 Hilton Ave. home about 6 p.m. caused $9,700 of damage, reports said. Neighbors told firefighters children were in the home earlier, but crews found no one there.
Crews also were called about 7:45 p.m. to a 2914 Hillman St. home that caught fire. Damage there was listed at $6,180. Reports said when firefighters showed up, flames were shooting out of the first- and second-story windows.
No one was injured in either blaze.
Crash kills woman, 88
MECCA
The Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to a fatal multi-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon.
The accident occurred at state Route 46 near McCleary Jacoby Road about 1:15 p.m.
Dianna Holmes, 32, of Cort-land was driving northbound on Route 46 when she struck another vehicle driven by Helen Jervis, 88, of Cortland, who was entering the roadway from her private driveway, the patrol said.
Jervis died after she was transported to St. Joseph Warren Hospital.
Holmes, along with three children passengers, age 4, 8 and 9, were transported to St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital for minor injuries. Both drivers wore seat belts, and child restraints were in place.
Fire departments from Mecca and Cortland assisted at the scene.
Ramp closing, detour
AUSTINTOWN
Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, the ramp from state Route 11 northbound to Interstate 80 westbound will be closed through 10 a.m. Saturday for pavement repairs.
The detour will be Interstate 680 to Meridian Road to I-80.
This work is part of a $91.5 million project to widen I-80 between Route 11 and state Route 193 (Belmont Avenue). The entire project is scheduled to be completed by late July 2018.
Stop nets drug arrest
CAMPBELL
A traffic stop Tuesday afternoon led to an arrest on charges of possession of drugs and driving under suspension.
Police stopped Theodore Grzejka, 30, of Youngstown for speeding and found a suspected Oxycontin pill, a police report states. Grzejka will be arraigned Friday in Campbell Municipal Court.
Struthers burglary
STRUTHERS
Police are investigating a burglary of an unlocked home on North Bridge Street reported Monday.
The homeowner told police someone had taken $800 worth of items, including a television, a tablet and a cellphone, a police report states.
Liberty burglary
LIBERTY
Police are investigating a burglary reported Monday. A Euclid Avenue resident told police someone had entered her house through a window and taken $1,800 worth of items including a television and a PlayStation, a police report states.
Girard burglary
GIRARD
Police are investigating a burglary reported Tuesday. An East Kline Street resident told police someone had entered her home through an unlocked side door and took $208 in cash, a police report states.
Theft arraignment
GIRARD
Brandon Miller, 21, of Girard was arraigned Monday in Girard Municipal Court on a third-degree felony theft charge. Police arrested Miller on Monday after a report that he purportedly stole a shotgun from a home on Patricia Drive. The court set Miller’s bond at 10 percent cash or surety of $10,000. His preliminary hearing will be Wednesday in Girard Municipal Court.