Joyrider Starts Police Chase
Hydetown – A 14-year-old led police on a high-speed chase through Crawford County on New Year’s Day, according to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police. Troopers from Corry report that a few minutes before 7 p.m. on New Year’s Day they attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a speeding motorist on Route 27 in Oil Creek Township. Instead of yielding the motorist sped up, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour in an attempt to escape from authorities before they gave up and pulled over just west of Titusville. The driver was a 14-year-old boy who had taken his mother’s car for a joyride while she slept. At press time charges are pending.

Wind to Continue Wednesday
NWPA – It was estimated by PowerOutage.us that over 12,000 Erie County residents were without electricity at 5:30 this morning after strong gusts of wind knocked down trees and utility lines along Lake Erie’s shore last night.  At press time PennDOT had yet to update information about the closures of around a dozen roads that had been blocked by falling trees and other debris caused by yesterday’s winds. The National Weather Service has warned that Wednesday may also bring more driving wind, rain, and snow that can impact vital services and traffic conditions today.

Fire Destroys House
Edinburg – A Lawrence County home was completely destroyed by fire in the midst of the rain and snow yesterday morning. In Mahoning Township firefighters from both Pennsylvania and Ohio braved the slush-covered roads to battle a housefire on Butch Circle Road near the town of Edinburg at 6 a.m. The entire house was involved by the time fire crews could begin fighting the blaze and was eventually destroyed. No one was living at the destroyed home and an investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.