Fallsnewspress.com - Winter weather brings highway collisions, citations

RPC Photo / Robert J. Lucas The view from the Hudson Drive bridge looking northward over state Route 8 was reminiscent of a parking lot the morning of Dec. 30, due to a series of accidents.

Cuyahoga Falls -- Safety forces were busy with a number of accidents that occurred during winter weather conditions.

A 72-year-old Canal Fulton man was transported by the Falls Fire Department to Akron General Medical Center with non-incapacitating injuries, the report said, after a two-car accident at 3:20 p.m. Jan. 4 at State Road and Maitland Avenue. State Road had snow on it, the report said, and Maitland was icy.

According to the report, the man was driving south on State Road and turned left in front of a van being driven by a 66-year-old Norton man. The Norton man was not injured, the report said. The Canal Fulton man was cited for failure to yield the right of way at an intersection.

Four accidents occurred in the southbound lanes of State Route 8 just north of the Second Street exit ramp the morning of Dec. 30 (See Jan. 3 issue of the Falls News-Press, Page 3). The crashes occurred within than an hour of one another and involved five vehicles, one of which was in two separate wrecks.

A 16-year-old Richfield girl was cited for failure to control when she lost control of her car after hitting a patch of ice at 7:55 a.m. The car spun around and drifted right into the center lane where it struck a Jeep being driven by a 70-year-old Stow man. No one was injured.

At 8:08 a.m., a 27-year-old Stow man lost control and drifted across two lanes, struck the curb and went off the right side of the road. His car then struck a stone-faced embankment, turned 180 degrees and continued south backwards, then turned back around and was facing south again when it came to rest. The driver was not injured or cited, the report said, but his car had major damage.

A 21-year-old Streetsboro man was cited for failure to control after a crash around 8:40 a.m. He was southbound on Route 8 in the left lane when his car slid on ice, struck the concrete barrier on the left, then crossed three lanes of traffic and struck an embankment on the right.

About five minutes later, a Jeep spinning out of control struck the Streetsboro man's car and a police officer investigating the crash. The driver of the Jeep, a 54-year-old Hudson man, was cited for failure to control. According to the report, the driver said he was traveling 50 mph and lost control when he tried to brake for a vehicle that cut in front of him.

The officer was treated and released for minor injuries, according to police.

Following the accidents, the southbound lanes of Route 8 at Graham Road were closed for approximately an hour.

Domestic violence

Jan. 5 -- Fiancée arrested. A 29-year-old Falls woman was arrested and charged with domestic violence after her live-in fiancé reported she struck him on the forehead.

Disorderly conduct

Jan. 3 -- Nature walk? A Uniontown man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct by intoxication after he was found walking down Pinebrook Trail intoxicated and wearing only a T-shirt, sweatpants and socks in 5-degree weather at 4:50 a.m.

Jan. 3 -- Family feud. A 19-year-old Cleveland man was arrested around 4:45 p.m. and charged with disorderly conduct by fighting after he allegedly fought with his 17-year-old brother in an apartment on Pleasant Meadow Boulevard.

Burglary

Jan. 2 -- Store robbed. The owner of a market in the 2400 block of State Road reported that someone took items with a total value of $1,730 from the store while it was closed between 8 p.m. Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. Jan. 2. There was no damage to the store, the report said, or visible evidence of the burglar's point of entry.

Village of Silver Lake

Dec. 29 -- Dog attacked. A village resident reported his Lhasapoo dog was bitten on the back, picked up and shaken violently by a large Husky-type dog at about 10:45 a.m. According to the police report, the Husky was being exercised by a 19-year-old village resident and was on a leash. The resident with the Lhasapoo told police the initial attack happened on the southeast corner of his lawn on Markle Drive. The attack continued into the street area of Orchard Road while both residents tried to separate their dogs, which they were eventually able to do.

According to the report, the Lhasapoo had "severe injuries," and was taken by his owner to the veterinarian, who performed surgery on the animal.

The 19-year-old's father, a 50-year-old village resident, was cited for failing to control an animal. Police Chief Gary DeMoss said the prosecutor told police to cite the father because he is the owner of the dog and has "ultimate control" of the animal.

The owner of the Lhasapoo dog asked Village Council on Jan. 4 to make the village's vicious dog ordinance stricter.

Editor's note: Police News is a sampling of incidents responded to by the Cuyahoga Falls and Silver Lake police departments. It's not intended to be all-inclusive.