FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE KID STUCK HIGH UP IN A TREE

Elyria – Kids climbing trees is as old as…. Well, kids and trees. Today one Elyria 13-year-old discovered that if you go too high sometimes it’s tough getting back down.

Assistant Chief Ron Brlas of the Elyria Fire Department said the young man was just out playing near his East Ave home when he began his journey up into the tree. “He got up a little more than 30 feet when he couldn’t figure out how to get back down the tree safely.”

Brlas said when Firefighters arrived the child had already been up in the tree for about 45 minutes according to his Grandmother.

Firefighters first raised a ladder and began cutting limbs to gain access to the child. While cutting they realized the tree might sway too much during a ladder rescue and send the child from his perch to the ground. “He was freezing cold already up there,” said Brlas. “We weren’t sure how much strength he had left to hang on if the tree started moving around so we opted to put the Tower up and get him down that way.”

Two Firefighters went up in Tower 8’s bucket and inched as close as they could to the child without moving the tree. Another Firefighter was just below on a ladder assisting with moving and cutting branches as needed. Once they got close enough Firefighter Chad Arcaba reached out and safely pulled the young man into the bucket. Once he was inside about 12 people who had gathered below applauded the successful rescue.

Once the child was back on the ground he was evaluated by LifeCare Paramedics and was then released to his Grandmother.

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MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN CRASH ON LOWELL STREET BRIDGE

Elyria – A 20 year old Elyria man was killed early Sunday morning after he crashed his bike on the Lowell Street Bridge.


Trooper Charlie Jackson of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said 20 year old Donald T. Zacharias was traveling east on Lowell Street when he lost control of his 1997 KTM dirt bike. “It appears that he was having a problem negotiating the curves and then lost control near the top of the bridge.”


Jackson said the bike had no lights and that the fog was heavy in the area at the time of the crash.


Elyria Township Firefighters responded to the scene and worked to resuscitate Zacharias before transporting him to Elyria Memorial Hospital. Zacharias was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later.


A helmet was found at the scene but Jackson said they were not sure if Zacharias was wearing it at the time of the crash.


The crash remains under investigation.

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Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk This St. Patrick’s Day

(COLUMBUS) - As many Ohioans prepare to join in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday celebration, the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) reminds them to plan ahead and designate a sober driver before the party begins.The St. Patrick’s Day holiday has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the large number of drunk drivers, the night has also become very dangerous.


We want people to enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, but we encourage them to do so responsibly, said ODPS Director Thomas P. Charles. It is important to take the appropriate step of designating a sober driver or making the necessary arrangements to get home safely. Don’t depend on luck.
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During last year’s St. Patrick’s Day holiday reporting period, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP), a division of ODPS, made 185 OVI-related arrests during the 24-hour reporting period of 6 a.m. on March 17 through 6 a.m. on March 18, 2011.


To prevent deaths and injuries, ODPS is partnering with local law enforcement and safety advocates around the state to increase enforcement on Ohio’s roads and remind people to plan ahead to designate a sober driver. More than 78 local law enforcement agencies around the state will be conducting more than 2,100 hours of enforcement activity and 1,900 hours of saturation patrols in addition to 15 sobriety checkpoints, funded by federal grants provided through the Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS), another division of ODPS. OSHP will also have a visible presence on the state’s highways.


Troopers will be out statewide looking for and removing impaired drivers from our roadways, said Colonel John Born, Patrol superintendent. Contribute to a safer Ohio by planning ahead to designate a driver and never get behind the wheel after drinking.”


For bars and permit holders, over-serving or serving underage customers could also mean costly fines, suspension or revocation of their liquor permit. ODPS’ Ohio Investigative Unit (OIU) and other safety partners have been working to educate motorists and permit holders of these consequences in advance by passing out St. Patrick’s Day materials, reminding people of the dangers of driving impaired, and that over-serving is against the law.


ODPS recommends the following easy steps for a safe St. Patrick’s Day:
• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation so you are sure to get home safely.
• If you see an impaired driver on the roadway, call law enforcement immediately. Call #667 on state highways.
• Remember, if you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.
• Always buckle up - it’s still your best defense against impaired drivers.
• If you are a bar, permit holder or employee and have questions about over-serving or other liquor-permit related issues, contact one of OIU’s regional offices. Contact information is listed online at: http://investigativeunit.ohio.gov/. OIU offers free instruction on laws pertaining to the sale and/or consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Agents also cover topics such as false identification, employment of minors, along with penalties for those found in violation.

DRUNK DRIVER ROLLS CAR ON ROUTE 57

Elyria – A Grafton man received his third OVI early this morning after crashing his car at Route 57 and East Broad Street.


Police say 49 year old Brian Allman of Grafton was traveling south on Route 57 when he lost control of his 1999 Olds Intrigue and went off the right side of the road. Allman struck a utility pole, went down an embankment and rolled his car. Allman was able to get out of the car on his own.


Allman refused treatment or transport from LifeCare Paramedics. He was then taken into custody and charged with OVI and Reasonable Control.

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LIFE AMBULANCE DRIVER AND PATIENT KILLED IN CRASH

CHILLICOTHE – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle fatal traffic crash that occurred this morning at approximately 9:47 a.m. on Hospital Rd. at the intersection of Delano Rd., Green Township, Ross County. The crash occurred when a southbound 2007 GMC C-7500 Carter Lumber truck was stopped to turn left onto Delano Rd. and was struck in the rear by a 1999 Ford E-350 Life ambulance.

The Life Ambulance vehicle was a non-emergency wheel chair van. State Patrol reports that the patient was bound to a wheel chair at the time of the crash.

The ambulance driver, Cody A. King, 21, of Chillicothe, Ohio and a patient passenger, Barbara L. McWhorter, 72, of Chillicothe were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the lumber tuck, Carl H. Dearth, 50, of Frankfort, Ohio was transported to Adena Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Assistance at the scene was provided by the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, Green Township Fire Department and the Ross County Coroner.

The crash remains under investigation.

MAN SLASHED WITH KNIFE DURING FIGHT

Elyria – Am Elyria man was taken to Elyria Memorial Hospital late Sunday night after a fight on 11th Street near West Ave.


Witnesses say a man apparently upset over a stolen bicycle threatened to stab someone. The man began arguing with 27 year old Shaun Justice who was in his car attempting to leave the area. Justice got out of the car and the fight began with the suspect pulling out a knife and slashing Justice across the face. The suspect then ran away south on West Ave.


Police were told while responding that the suspect was wearing jeans and a ball cap. Officers were directed to the area of the Market at 15th and West by neighbors. Officers spotted a man walking in the parking lot matching the description and took him into custody.


The victim’s girlfriend was brought to the Market and made a positive identification of the suspect. However, Police now believe the man was not involved and he has been released.


Justice was treated and released with an approximate 4 inch cut to his face.