Fatal Crash Closed I-90
Erie – Portions of Interstate 90 in Erie County were closed on Friday afternoon as police and EMS responded to a fatal crash involving a motorcycle. At press time details about the crash had not been released by the Pennsylvania State Police, but Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook identified the crash victim as a 57-year-old Stockton, New York man named James Erickson. Both eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 were closed between exits 18 and 20 from around 2 o’clock in the afternoon until 5:45 p.m. The Pennsylvania State Police based in Erie are still investigating.
First Responder Injured at Crash Scene
Espyville – According to a social media post from the North Shenango Volunteer Fire Department, on Sunday one of their members was struck by a vehicle that ignored a roadblock on Hartstown Road. The department reports that on Sunday they responded to an accident scene with entrapment near the Pymatuning Lake Spillway and that cones were placed across the roadway to prevent anyone who wasn’t emergency personnel from entering the scene. Several motorists drove around the cones and into the accident scene anyway, forcing the department to divert personnel to turn the cars around; one of those firefighters was hit by a driver who then left the scene. The firefighter was evaluated at Meadville Medical Center and released to go home.
Prosecutors add more Charges to Likens Killer
Mercer – During the preliminary hearing of DeShawn Watkins on Thursday, prosecutors requested that two more charges be filed against him. Prosecutors added deviant involuntary sexual intercourse and general homicide to the list of crimes he has been accused of. Watkins has been charged with homicide in the first degree, abuse of a corpse, aggravated assault, and tampering with evidence for the killing of 14-year-old Pauly Likens, a transgender teenager. Watkins will be formally arraigned on September 24th in Courtroom 3 of the Mercer County Courthouse.
Arson Suspected in Fatal Housefire
Erie – In Erie County, the Pennsylvania State Police are investigating a deadly fire as an arson. On Wednesday night, at least seven fire departments were called to extinguish a house fire in Green Township; during the blaze firefighters discovered the body of 40-year-old Kevin Rouse inside the house. On Thursday investigators from the State Police Fire Marshalls confirmed it was being investigated as a criminal arson and that someone had set fires on multiple levels in multiple rooms.