SITTING IN A HOUSE THAT’S ON FIRE

AND DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT

TMC NEWS PHOTOS / BRIAN WOODS
Elyria – Dan Nelson of Elyria was sitting in his Nebraska Ave home this morning with a friend and wasn’t even aware of the fire raging above him.

Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said that a person driving by Nelson’s home spotted smoke and fire coming from the roof Saturday morning. “The person alerted Nelson and his friend of the fire and they quickly got out of the house and called 9-1-1.”

Brlas said that when Firefighters arrived they found fire coming from the roof. “We discovered that the fire had started in a second floor bathroom exhaust fan. We believe it was caused by an electrical issue.”

The fire had been going for a couple hours according to Brlas and was eating away at the supports in the roof. “It was good that the person spotted the fire when they did, had the fire had more time to weaken the supports they could have given way and collapsed. The homeowner and his friend was not aware of the fire because the fire was above all of the homes smoke detectors so they had no idea that the roof was on fire.”

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze in about an hour. Brlas estimates the damage at $40K.

Mutual Aid assistance was provided by Sheffield Village Fire, Avon Fire and LifeCare Ambulance.


PHOTO GALLERY

WEATHER ALERT

UPDATE: Friday 10:00am
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY remains in effect until 10 PM this evening.

Snow will continue today. Northwest winds will average 15 to 20 MPH with gusts to 30 MPH. Blowing and drifting snow will be a problem, mainly in the open countryside.

By late this evening snowfall totals for the storm will range from 4 to 8 inches with a few locally higher amounts possible.

THE NEXT 48
This Afternoon: Snow and widespread blowing snow. High near 28. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Tonight: Occasional snow showers. Low around 24. Northwest wind between 10 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Occasional snow showers. High near 33. North wind between 10 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Saturday Night: Scattered snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 27. Northwest wind between 10 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
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WEATHER UPDATE: 3:25 PM
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has updated the Winter Storm WATCH to a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY.

The Winter Weather Advisory will remain in effect until 10 p.m. Friday.

Snow will occur tonight into Friday evening with some blowing and drifting snow developing. The winds may gust to 30 MPH at times.

By late Friday evening snowfall totals will range from 4 to 8 inches with some locally higher amounts.

MAN TRAPPED AFTER CRASH

DEVELOPING
Carlisle Township – One man was injured early Wednesday morning after he lost control of his car on Russia Road and crashed into a tree – pinning him inside.


Check back later today for more information and a complete PHOTO GALLERY

SHOOTING UNDER INVESTIGATION

TWO GUNS FOUND AT SCENE

Story & Photos by BRIAN WOODS
Elyria – Elyria Police Detectives are working to sift through evidence and interviews to determine what took place leading up to the disturbance early Sunday morning that left two people shot on Lake Ave outside of Uncle Vic’s Night Club.

Elyria Police Officers, along with Deputies from the Lorain County Sheriff’s Department and Troopers from the State Patrol, responded to Lake Ave outside of the night club just before 2:30 a.m. after receiving calls of shots fired in the area. When Officers arrived they found between 50 and 100 people on the street and two people shot.

LifeCare Paramedics treated 26 year old Norman Phillips of Lorain and 18 year old Centeria Mosley of Sandusky for gunshot wounds. Phillips suffered a shot to his arm while Mosley was shot in the leg. Both victims were transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital where they were later transported to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. Both victims were released several hours later.

Witnesses say that shots rang out shortly after a disturbance that broke out inside of the club.
While conducting their investigation Officers found two handguns – a .45 Cal and a .38 cal revolver. Police say it is not clear yet if either of the guns were used in the shooting. Gunshot residue kits were performed on at least four people that Police spoke with after the shooting. The results from those kits should be available sometime this week.

The shooting and the disturbance that led up to it are still under investigation. Police Detectives encourage anyone who might have information regarding the incident to contact Police at 440.323.3302.

During the melee Police stopped a car that was leaving the scene and arrested 22 year old Rafeal T. Pool of Sandusky for Obstruction, Driving Under Suspension and Possession of marijuana.


PHOTO GALLERY

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY

Light snow and ice accumulations are expected from a storm system to move into Ohio Monday.

Precipitation will spread into the area this evening, possibly starting as rain and snow mix. The precipitation is expected to transition to a period of snow then freezing rain. As temperatures, at just above the surface, remain near the critical freezing mark, multiple precipitation types are possible going into Monday.

Between tonight and early Monday, the freezing rain has the potential for a light glaze of ice and the snowfall could be an inch or two. The precipitation is expected to be rain by afternoon. A transition back to snow showers can be expected toward and during the evening.


THE NEXT 24
Tonight: Rain and snow likely before 10pm, then snow between 10pm and 1am, then snow and freezing rain after 1am. Low around 29. East wind between 6 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Monday: Rain or freezing rain, becoming all rain after 10am. High near 37. East wind between 11 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Monday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers before midnight, then a slight chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 9 to 15 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

2 PEOPLE SHOT IN ELYRIA

AS SHOTS RING OUT IN DOWNTOWN

DEVELOPING
Story & Photos by: BRIAN WOODS
Elyria – Two people were shot Saturday night in downtown Elyria on Lake Ave just off Broad Street. Few details were available but both victims were taken to Elyria Memorial Hospital to be treated for their injuries. At least four possible suspects were questioned by Police and released after they had Gunshot Residue Kits performed on their hands. It is unknown when those test results will return.

We will bring you details as they become available.


PHOTO GALLERY

TRUCKS COLLIDE IN CARLISLE

Carlisle Township – A man running a stop sign was the cause of two trucks colliding at the intersection of West Ridge Road and Russia Road early Saturday morning.

Trooper JP Toth of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said that David Dudley of Ashland, Ohio was north on West Ridge Road when he ran a stop sign striking a Ford F150.

The crash caused Dudley’s truck to roll over – trapping him inside.

Carlisle Firefighters had to cut the roof off of the truck in order to free Dudley from the wreckage.

LifeCare Paramedics treated Dudley at the scene and then transported him just down the road to the Lorain County Airport to the Metro LifeFlight Lorain Base where the Flight & Medical Crew was waiting.

Dudley was flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

The driver of the F150 was treated and transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital with minor injuries.

Toth said that Dudley would be charged with Failure to Yield a Stop Sign.



PHOTO GALLERY

DANCER ROLLS CAR ON RT 20

Carlisle Township – Firefighters were called to Route 20, just west of Route 301 early Saturday morning for a reported roll over crash with entrapment.

When Carlisle Township Firefighters arrived they found an SUV resting on its side in the median of Route 20 and a female standing on top. Firefighters told the female to hold still while they get the ladder and they would help her down. The woman then advised the Firefighters something that made them do a quick double take. She said she was not wearing shoes or underwear. The woman then jumped from the SUV and into the arms of one of the Firemen.

LifeCare Paramedics evaluated the driver in the back of a Carlisle Rescue truck but the woman refused any treatment or transport.

Trooper AJ Torres of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the woman was traveling west on Route 20 from 301 when she lost control of her vehicle and went off the left side of the road. The woman advised Torres that she was heading home from her job where she works as a dancer.

Torres said that the driver would be charged with Failure to Control and OVI.

PHOTO GALLERY

WINTER STORM WARNING

UPDATE 5:15pm
The National Weather Service in Cleveland has upgraded the Winter Storm Watch to a WINTER STORM WARNING this afternoon.

The WARNING will be in effect from Noon on Tuesday until 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Accumulations through sunset on Tuesday will generally be between 1 and 3 inches. Another 3 to 5 inches of snow is likely Tuesday night with additional snowfall on Wednesday.

Total accumulations through early Wednesday evening will range from 6 to 9 inches.

In addition, windy conditions will develop Tuesday night into Wednesday causing considerable blowing and drifting snow. Northeast to east winds of 10 to 20 MPH Tuesday evening will become Northwest Wednesday morning and increase to 15 to 25 MPH with occasional higher gusts.


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The National Weather Service in Cleveland has issued a WINTER STORM WATCH for northeast Ohio. The WATCH is in effect from Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening.

A low pressure will move into the lower Ohio Valley area late tonight. It will then move northeast and deepen as it moves toward the lower Great Lake Region Tuesday night – and then to the east coast on Wednesday.

Snow will begin to spread into Northwest Ohio Tuesday morning overspreading the rest of Northern Ohio by early afternoon. Snow accumulations Tuesday into Wednesday could be in the 6 to 10 inch range.

Windy conditions will also likely develop Tuesday night into Wednesday causing blowing and drifting snow.

A WINTER STORM WATCH means that heavy snow is possible. If you are within the WATCH area remain alert to rapidly changing weather conditions.

STATE PATROL MOURNS LOSS

CAREY – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is mourning the loss of Trooper Andrew C. Baldridge, of the Bucyrus Post, after he passed away this evening following a one-vehicle crash in Wyandot County.

The crash occurred on Township Road 95, just south of state Route 103, just west of the village of Carey, at approximately 6:05 p.m. Trooper Baldridge and a passenger, 33 year old Trooper Mark McLaughlin, also of the Bucyrus Post, were heading southbound on TR 95 when their Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor drove off the right side of the road and rolled. Both Troopers appear to have been wearing seat belts. Trooper McLaughlin was injured in the crash and transported via helicopter to Toledo St. Vincent Hospital, where he is listed in fair condition late tonight.

“This is a tragedy for the Patrol and the Department of Public Safety, our young Trooper’s family and all who knew and worked with this promising young man. Our prayers go out to him and his family tonight, as well as to Trooper McLaughlin and his family,” said Colonel David W. Dicken, Ohio State Highway Patrol Superintendent.

OHIO TROOPER KILLED IN CRASH

BREAKING NEWS
Bucyrus Ohio – An Ohio State Trooper was killed tonight after a crash while responding to a call in southern Ohio.

The Trooper, whose name we’re not releasing at this time, had just graduated from the 149th State Patrol Academy in December and was assigned to the Bucyrus Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
We’re told that the Trooper and a Field Training Officer, who was in the passenger seat, were responding to a call when they went off the right side of the road. The Training Officer was flown to Toledo from the scene and is listed in fair condition.
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UPDATE 10:00PM – The Ohio State Highway Patrol has released the name of the Trooper that was killed tonight as 25-year-old Andrew C. Baldridge.

Baldridge and another Trooper were responding to a call for mutual aid from the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Department at the time of the crash. The single vehicle crash sent the two Troopers off the side of the road and rolled several times before coming to rest on its roof – trapping both men inside. After Firefighters extricated the men the Training Officer was flown to Mercy St. Vincent Hospital in Toledo and Baldridge was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff Michael Hetzel of the Wyandot County Sheriff’s Department said that he knew Baldridge well and that he was the type of kid parents would want their daughter to bring home. “This is all he ever wanted to do. It’s like losing your own son and I have sons in law enforcement and this is not going to be a good time for anybody.”

The crash occurred at Township Highway 95 near Township Highway 27 / Brown Road southwest of the Village of Carey at around 6:20 p.m.

Baldridge grew up in Carey Ohio and had just graduated from the State Patrol’s 149th Academy Class in December. Baldridge was selected by his 37 fellow graduates to be the class speaker at the graduation. Baldridge thanked the Academy and the families of the cadets for all of their support during their training. Courses completed by the 149th class included firearms, traffic and criminal laws, self-defense, human relations and crash investigation training. Cadets also drove on the performance track at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy (OPOTA) in London.