An 8-year-old Walnut Hills girl was in critical condition Tuesday after she was struck by a car while crossing a street near her home. Jimmy May Simpson of Lincoln Avenue was struck about 2:47 p.m. in the 1300 block of Lincoln Avenue in Walnut Hills, said Sgt. Mike Zwick of Cincinnati Police Division.
The driver of the car, Michael Virge, 28, of Walnut Hills, was eastbound on Lincoln Avenue as the child attempted to cross the street, Sgt. Zwick said. No charges have been filed.
The traffic unit is continuing its investigation into the incident, Sgt. Zwick said. Witnesses are encouraged to call the traffic unit at 352-2514.
Officer wrecks on Columbia Parkway
Columbia Parkway was closed to traffic Tuesday afternoon after a Cincinnati police officer lost control of his cruiser and collided with another car.
Officer Kevin Crayon was eastbound in a marked car when he failed to control the cruiser, hit a guardrail, crossed the center line and struck a westbound car, police said. Officer Crayon, 39, of District 2, was transported to University Hospital where he was treated and released, said Sgt. Rudy Gruenke of Cincinnati police's traffic unit.
The collision occurred at 2:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Columbia Parkway, said Sgt. Gruenke. The motorist in the westbound vehicle, Author Seifert, 60, of Addyston, was not injured.
The traffic unit is continuing to investigate the traffic collision. Columbia Parkway was closed to all traffic between William Howard Taft Road and Delta Avenue.
Boyfriend charged with attempted murder
"Sterling" Silver Marteen was indicted Tuesday on charges of attempting to kill his girlfriend by burning her with a hot iron and choking her with the cord.
Mr. Marteen, also known as Tony Thomas, faces charges of attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping, aggravated robbery and domestic violence. He was arrested Oct. 20 after his girlfriend, Janice Miller told police he pressed the iron against her face and choked her with the cord.
Ms. Miller suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face and upper body.
Maintenance building destroyed in fire
FAIRFIELD -- A fire destroyed an apartment complex's maintenance building and forced officials to close Gilmore Road for two hours Tuesday. Firefighters were called at 6:45 a.m. to Village Green Apartments at Gilmore and Ohio 4, and spent more than two hours at the scene, Fire Chief Don Bennett said. At last check, the fire's cause and origin remained undetermined.
The loss was estimated at $30,000. No one was injured.
City Hall forum on downtown truck loading
The city of Cincinnati plans a forum Thursday to discuss downtown truck-loading restrictions.
The forum will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 312 at City Hall, 801 Plum St. Deliveries and pickups have created bigger backups on downtown streets -- especially Fourth, Fifth and Sixth -- since the Fort Washington Way reconstruction project began in summer.
The city has encouraged businesses to work with suppliers and delivery companies to schedule pickups during non-peak traffic hours. Deliveries and pickups are prohibited 6-9 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. To RSVP or for more information, call Jeff Wallace at 639-2166.
$200,000 fire damage to self-storage units
Cincinnati firefighters are investigating a two-alarm fire that caused $200,000 in damage Tuesday to Queen City Self Storage, 4775 Red Bank Expressway in Madisonville.
About 25 of the 40 rental storage units were destroyed in the blaze about 1:15 a.m.
The fire spread rapidly, and firefighters had to cut off metal doors from each unit to get inside. No injuries were reported.
Police look into phony cop in Northside
Cincinnati police are investigating the report of a man impersonating a police officer Sunday night on Witler Street in Northside.
Police say the phony officer went up to a 19-year-old man, showed a small silver badge and demanded information about his girlfriend's car, which had been stolen in the area.
He claimed he was part of a Kentucky narcotics unit, and he may have had a gun in his pocket, police said. Police had only a vague description of the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call District 5 police at 352-3578.
Public hearing tonight on school facilities plan
Residents who want to speak out about Cincinnati Public Schools' $697 million facilities master plan can do so at a public hearing tonightat Washington Park School, 115 W. 14th St. in Over-the-Rhine. The 7 p.m. hearing is the first of four scheduled on the plan this month. The others, all at 7 p.m., are scheduled for: Thursday at Western Hills High School, 2144 Ferguson Road in Westwood; Nov. 10 at Peoples Middle School, 3030 Erie Ave. in Hyde Park; and Nov. 11 at Chase School, 4151 Turrill St. in Northside.
HIV-positive prostitute issues warning on TV
CLEVELAND -- A man who told a judge he has been a prostitute and has the virus that causes AIDS issued a warning via TV urging those he may have had sex with to seek medical attention.
In a plea bargain, Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold said Monday she ordered Tony Brown, 37, of Cleveland to appear before TV cameras to protect the public's safety.
