Man cited after crash that trapped him and 10-year-old son in Warren

Staff report

WARREN

Harley A. Champlin Jr., 36, of Washington Avenue in Girard was charged with drunken driving and other charges after an 8:38 p.m. Thursday crash on Youngstown Road that trapped him and his 10-year-old son in the vehicle.

When police arrived, they found Champlin’s pickup truck on its side near Kenilworth Avenue. Champlin and his son were trapped in the cab and had to be helped out. Police smelled alcohol, saw several cans of beer inside and later tested Champlin’s blood for alcohol.

A witness said he saw Champlin’s vehicle traveling at high speed near Central Parkway, then saw it swerve into oncoming traffic, then strike the back of another vehicle, which left the roadway and struck a fire hydrant and a car parked in a car lot.

Champlin’s pickup hit a snow bank on the side of the road and turned on its side.

Ambulance personnel took Champlin and his son to ValleyCare Trumbull Memorial Hospital. The boy had a head injury. No one was injured in the car Champlin struck, police said.

In addition to DUI, Champlin was cited for failure to maintain assured clear distance, failure to control, seat-belt violation and failure to remain in marked lanes. No arraignment date is listed in records for Warren Municipal Court.