Van crash in Howland investigated

Staff report

HOWLAND

A northbound van went out of control on Elm Road Northeast shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday, and pedestrians said it was a miracle no one was injured.

The vehicle struck the rear of a car, went off the right side of the road into a ditch, shearing off a utility pole, and continued across a parking lot before striking a sign and crashing through the front wall of Grossman’s Bargain Outlet, 3808 Elm Road.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said the driver, John Robinson, 59, of Warren, was not injured in the crash, but was transported to Trumbull Memorial Hospital. The patrol said a medical condition may have contributed to the accident.

The crash caused a localized power outage to nearby businesses, and Elm was closed from North River Road to near Blair Drive for about 45 minutes while Ohio Edison cleared live power lines from the roadway.

Howland and Bazetta township police and fire departments assisted with the investigation. The OSHP said the parking lot was busy with vehicles.