GEORGETOWN — A car-theft suspect didn't hesitate to get behind the wheel of another man's truck to escape from jail Saturday, police said.

        Sheriff's deputies were searching for Joshua Taylor of Pleasant Plain after the 22-year-old broke free about 1:30 p.m. from a group of prisoners being escorted on foot from Brown County Court across Mount Orab Pike to the jail.

        Shackled and handcuffed, Mr. Taylor escaped from deputies and jumped into a blue 1990 Dodge Dakota truck that had keys in the ignition, sheriff's Capt. Barry Creighton said.

        Mr. Taylor had been jailed since Friday, when Brown County deputies arrested him on a charge of driving under suspension. The escape occurred after he attended a bond hearing on that charge. Bond was set at $2,500.

        He also was being held on a warrant from Clermont County for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, drug abuse and failure to appear in court.

        Mr. Taylor was last seen in the truck, bearing Ohio registration PN63CX.

        Anyone with information is asked to call (937) 378-4435.
       

Retired officer
dies in car wreck

               An 88-year-old retired Cincinnati Police Officer died Saturday afternoon when he lost control of his car and went over an embankment and hit a tree in Avondale.

        The one-car wreck occurred shortly before 2 p.m. in the 800 block of Hutchins Avenue, near Magill Avenue.

        Velmon Butler of Hyde Park was taken to University Hospital, where he died a short time later from injuries received from the crash, Cincinnati police said.

        Investigators said a previous medical condition may have contributed to the one-car wreck.
       

Ministry seeks prayers
for peace, healing

               The Word of God Outreach Ministry is issuing a 30-day prayer challenge to area residents.

        The Rev. Brad Gressle of Word of God in Middletown and other Butler County ministers on June 23 will challenge the city of Cincinnati to pray at least twice a day for 30 days for peace and healing.

        The challenge will kick off from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 23 at Fountain Square.

Crash kills girl,
injures toddler

               UNION TOWNSHIP — A Batavia toddler remained in serious condition at Children's Hospital Medical Center Saturday after being injured Friday night in a two-vehicle collision that killed a 12-year-old Batavia girl on Ohio 125 near Bach-Buxton Road in Clermont County.

        Nicholas Stephenson, 3, was in a car struck by a minivan, driven by Rachel R. Swanson, 26, of Batavia, who suffered minor injuries.

        The driver of the car, 23-year-old Patricia Stephenson, also of Batavia, was treated at University Hospital for minor injuries.

        The crash, about 6:15 p.m., killed Kristen Johnson.

        The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck.

Inmate hospitalized
after hanging incident

               LEBANON — A Warren County Jail inmate is in serious condition at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton after she was found hanging in her cell Friday night, said Warren County Sheriff Tom Arris.

        Julie Strickland, 30, of Springboro, was in the cell alone when she was found by a corrections officer who was making rounds.

        She had been at the jail since April 26. She continues to face felony forgery and theft charges. The sheriff's department said Ms. Strickland will be returned to the jail after she is released from the hospital.
       

Girl dies after fall
during horse event

               LEXINGTON, Ky. — A 12-year-old Ohio girl who was competing at the Kentucky Horse Park died Friday after her horse fell on her, an official said.

        Alexandra Fowler of Akron was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Deputy Fayette County Coroner Miles C. White II said.

        The girl and the horse were taking part in a jumping competition around 1 p.m. when the horse caught his hoof, Mr. White said. Alexandra fell off the horse, and the horse fell on top of her, he said.

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