EMT CHARGED IN TRAFFIC FATALITY

Grafton Township – The Emergency Medical Technician that was involved in the September 15th crash that killed 82 year old Zygmut Pacyna has been charged with two misdemeanors.

Richard Robertson was charged with Vehicular Homicide (M1) and Vehicular Manslaughter (M2).

Robertson was driving a Grafton Township Fire Department Ambulance on September 15th south on Island Road with a patient and another EMT in the back of the ambulance heading to the hospital. When Robertson came to the intersection of Island and Route 303, where he had a stop sign, he did not come to a complete stop before crossing the intersection. Pacyna was traveling east on Route 303 as he approached the intersection of Island Road which does not have a stop sign. State Patrol Officials say that Robertson was traveling approximately 20 MPH while Pacyna was traveling approximately 53 MPH.

The law says that Robertson had the duty to show “due regard” and they believe he did not in this case.

Robertson has plead not guilty and will be in court for a pre-trial hearing before Judge Lisa Locke Graves on March 1, 2011 at 1:30 p.m.


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WOMAN INJURED IN CRASH

ON THE DAY OF HER 62nd BIRTHDAY

Eaton Township – A crash Tuesday afternoon in Eaton Township sent one woman to the hospital with non-critical injuries – NOT the way she wanted to spend her 62nd birthday.

Trooper Jeff Kaess of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said that the two car crash occurred when Felix Garcia backed out of a private driveway on North Island Road and into the path of Timothy Moore and his mother. “Moore was traveling southbound on Island when Garcia backed his Ford Ranger out of the driveway causing Moore to strike him. As a result of the crash Moore’s car received damage to the right side of his car, trapping the passenger inside.”

Eaton Township Firefighters had to cut 62 year old Margaret Houser out of the passenger side of Moore’s car. Chief Phil Slack said that she was transported to Elyria Memorial Hospital with non-critical injures to be further evaluated.

Trooper Kaess said that Garcia has been cited with failure to yield from a private drive.

TMC NEWS would like to wish Ms. Houser a very Happy Birthday!

To see more photos from the scene: CLICK HERE

ROLL OVER IN GRAFTON

A car traveling on South Island Road Saturday night went off the road, rolled over and came to rest in a ditch on its side. The occupants were able to free themselves from the vehicle before Eaton Township Fire & Rescue arrived on scene. Two people were treated for injuries sustained in the crash and taken to the hospital. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

1 DEAD AFTER COLLISION WITH AMBULANCE - 2 FIREMEN INJURED

DEVELOPING
Grafton Township – One man is dead and a Firefighter was injured after a collision this morning between a 2001 Chevy Cavalier and a Grafton Township Fire Department ambulance.

The crash occurred in the intersection of State Route 303 and Island Road Wednesday morning. Few details are being released at this time as the investigation is still ongoing. We have learned that a Grafton Township Fire Department Ambulance (Unit 175) had been dispatched to a home on Island for a man that had fallen approximately 15 feet from a ladder. Grafton Township Unit 175 was then in the process of transporting the 62 year old male from the scene to Medina General Hospital. The ambulance was heading south on Island as they approached Route 303. According to the State Highway Patrol an 82 year old male was traveling eastbound on Route 303 in a Cavalier.

The cause of the collision has not yet been released.

Eaton Township Fire Department responded and had to use cutting tools to extricate the driver of the Cavalier. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Paramedics.

Both Firefighters in Unit 175 were treated at the scene and transported to Medina General to be evaluated.

The male who had fallen from the ladder was transported by another squad to Medina General.


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MIDNIGHT CRASH IN GRAFTON

FOUR TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS

A midnight crash in Grafton Township sent four people to area hospitals, one to Cleveland by helicopter.

The crash occurred in the intersection of South Island and Grafton Eastern Roads in Grafton Township around Midnight Thursday night. The crash rolled one vehicle over ending up on its side while the other car ended up in a yard just off the road.

Assistant Chief Tim Adams of the Grafton Township Fire Department said that in all four people had to be taken to the hospital. “There were two people in each vehicle and when we arrived on scene the two in the car had already gotten out on their own. Extricating the two from the vehicle on its side was pretty easy because it is a convertible so we were able to use that to our advantage and safely remove them.”

Metro LifeFlight was on the ground within minutes and flew one of the victims to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland while the remaining three victims went to Medina General and Elyria Memorial.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

To see more photos from the scene: CLICK HERE

WOMAN SLAMS POLE – FLEES SCENE

Elyria Township – A woman driving on Griswold Road late Friday night lost control of her car and slammed into a utility pole.

The woman was attempting to jump on Route 57 south from Griswold Road when she didn’t make the turn her car ran up on the island and crashed into the pole. The driver fled the scene before Police arrived.

As Police and Paramedics started pulling up on scene they received a call of a woman inside of the Red Carpet Inn lobby bleeding from the face. Paramedics and Firefighters responded there and treated the driver.

She was transported to Elyria Memorial hospital where she was later flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

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