Sunday, March 28, 1999
TRISTATE DIGEST
Alcohol suspected in crash that kills woman
A 20-year-old Independence, Ky., woman was killed and two men were seriously injured Saturday morning in a single-car accident that police say was alcohol-related.
Kelly A. Helton of Oby Drive was a passenger in a van that careened out of the northbound lanes of Interstate 275 and into a sloped, grass median, police said. The van flipped over and caught fire.
The accident, which occurred at 2:45 a.m. near the Kellogg Avenue exit, forced authorities to shut down the interstate for more than three hours.
Ms. Helton was flown to University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The driver of the van, 23-year-old Scott Anderson of Vincent Court in Taylor Mill, Ky., was transported to University by ambulance. He was listed in serious condition Saturday evening.
Police think he had been drinking prior to the accident, said Sgt. Mike Zwick.
Another passenger, 22-year-old James Brent Dean of Relway Drive in Independence, was also seriously injured.
He was admitted to University Hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery Saturday evening.
Witnesses and others with information about the crash are asked to call the Cincinnati Police Traffic Unit at 352-2514.
Riverfront commission seeks burbs' views
The Cincinnati Riverfront Advisory Commission will hold three more meetings to hear what people want built on Cincinnati's central riverfront.
The commission is charged with recommending what kinds of businesses should be built on top of parking garages between the new stadiums for the Bengals and Reds.
The rest of the meetings the group has scheduled are:
• At 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Union Township Hall in Butler County, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road in West Chester. The forum is to get ideas from residents of southern Butler and Warren counties.
• At 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Green Township Hall, 6303 Harrison Ave. This meeting is to hear from residents of western Hamilton County.
• At 6:30 p.m.April 8 at the Union Township Hall in Clermont County, 4312 Gleneste-Withamsville Road. This forum is to get ideas from residents of Anderson Township and Clermont County.
Truck spill closes Lateral for 5 hours
The Norwood Lateral at Interstate 75 was closed for five hours Saturday morning as crews worked to clean up a spilled truckload of metal and to clear away damaged sections of a concrete retaining wall.
A semi jackknifed at 5 a.m. as it entered the ramp connecting westbound Ohio 562 to southbound I-75, Cincinnati police said. The truck flipped on its side and destroyed 30 feet of the retaining wall.
The driver, 49-year-old Steven Bruin of Cumberland, Tenn., was treated at the scene for minor injuries. He was cited for having a shifting load.
Police said there was no indication that alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.
Man accused of raping 7-year-old in apartment
A 46-year-old Kennedy Heights man was ordered held for lack of a $65,000 cash bond Saturday for allegedly raping a 7-year-old girl.
Thomas Howard of Woodford Road was arraigned in municipal court on two counts of rape and one count of gross sexual imposition.
He allegedly committed the crimes Friday at his apartment, and was arrested later that day. According to a police report, he admitted to fondling and assaulting the girl, who is not being identified.
Mr. Howard also pleaded no contest Saturday to six outstanding traffic offenses.
He was found guilty and sentenced to serve 180 days in jail. His driver's license is suspended.
“I think if he's convicted of the felonies, he won't be needing a license for a while,” said Judge William L. Mallory Jr.
Papa John's worker hit in head, robbed
SYMMES TOWNSHIP — Two men assaulted and robbed an employee at Papa John's Pizza, 11902 Montgomery Road, at 4:10 a.m. Saturday, police said.
The assailants approached the employee as he was locking the front door of the restaurant, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office reported.
The robbers hit him in the back of his head and stole an undisclosed amount of cash, sheriff's officers said.
The employee, whom police declined to identify, suffered minor injuries. No arrests had been made by Saturday evening.
Fire damages house, kills cat in Deer Park
— A Deer Park family was left without a place to live a day after a fire that did an estimated $40,000 in damage to their home.
John and Joanie Dryer and their six children were not home when the blaze started, but the family cat was killed, Deer Park Fire Department officials said Saturday.
Authorities think the fire at 4128 Schenck Ave. was started by an electrical appliance in a bedroom, but the investigation is continuing.
Firefighters from Deer Park, Silverton and Sycamore Township responded to the fire around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The family was being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Will Spenser grow old with the rest of us?
Crosby, Collins cases echo from shooting death
Justin's case 'one in a million'
For some birth mothers, open adoption eases pain of loss
Hospital costs, stays vary widely
Don't worry, Bill will be back
A wonderful day a the races
Race fans: Name lacks flavor of Jim Beam
CSO's next season salutes 20th century
Cincinnati Symphony schedule for 1999-2000
Cincinnati Symphony subscription information
Prime-time cartoon craze
Tennille stages return with 'Victor/Victoria'
A new kind of March madness
Every once in a while, politics can be fun
PIP mural stars face their faces
A lesson in safety: The train always wins
Answers in Genesis: Not just a museum
Cities win back right to ticket
Dayton turns on lights for Erica
Democrats envy GOP youth wave
McConnell basks in spotlight
Party backs 8 Democrats for city council
School lunch now healthful
TRISTATE DIGEST
United Way's 'vision councils' stress collaboration
