Motorcycle Crash Kills Two
Mill Village – Two people are dead after crashing a motorcycle on Route 6 in Erie County’s Leboeuf Township. 34-year-old Adam Krispin and 26-year-old Kiley Johnson, both of Titusville, suffered fatal injuries at about 6 p.m. Saturday evening when they hit a ditch and were thrown from a Harley Davidson motorcycle near Mill Village. Investigators say that Adam was not wearing a helmet and that Kiley’s helmet was worn improperly which led to their fatal injuries.
Greene County DA Arrested
Waynesburg – In State News, the former District Attorney of Green County, David Russo, and his former Chief Detective Zachary Sams have been charged with multiple crimes stemming from their alleged use of Russo’s authority to threaten political rivals and other county officials. Both men have been charged with retaliation for past official action, official oppression, and conspiracy to commit both; Russo faces additional charges for conflicts of interest and misapplying public property. The charges stem from alleged abuses of power and the legal system between 2021 and 2023.
Youth Coach Fired After Child Assault Allegations
Butler – A youth hockey coach in Butler County has been charged with the sexual abuse of two young boys when he lived in Iowa. 38-year-old Kyle Dirks of Cranberry Township, Butler County, has been charged for allegedly assaulting two boys in Sioux City Iowa between 2017 and 2021. The first boy is now 14 years old and was allegedly abused several times between the ages of eight and 11 years, the second boy is now 17 and was allegedly abused twice at the age of 11. Here in Pennsylvania, Dirks was employed by the Shane Clifford Goalie School and volunteered as a goalie Coach for Robert Morris University, both positions he has been removed from.
Police Say Drugs Caused Crash
Greenville – Authorities in Mercer County report that an Atlantic PA man was under the influence of drugs when he survived a head-on collision in Greenville. According to police, Derick Coulter was DUI when he passed out and crashed his vehicle into a utility pole at the intersection of Spruce and Clarksville Streets, suffering only minor injuries. Investigators say they found drug paraphernalia in his vehicle at the scene of the crash and later evidence shows he had used an illicit substance.
Teen Survives Motorcycle Crash
Meadville – A 17-year-old biker has been charged for speeding after crashing his motorcycle near the KOA Campgrounds on Route 27 in Crawford County. While riding through East Meade Township on September 27th the unnamed minor lost control of his Kawasaki Ninja and left the road, he attempted to re-enter the roadway but lost control and fell into a slide across the westbound lane of 27 until he came to rest in a front yard. The rider wore appropriate safety gear and suffered moderate, but not life-threatening injuries, and was taken to Meadville Medical Center for treatment. He was charged with speeding by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Man Caught After Police Chase
Oil City – A 52-year-old man is jailed after leading the Pennsylvania State Police on a high-speed pursuit through Venango County on Wednesday. Troopers say that they attempted to stop Todd Shoffstall of Franklin on Route 8 near Oil City after witnessing his vehicle swerving on and off of the road Wednesday, but rather than yield Shoffstall tried to flee. Troopers pursued him for several miles into Oakland Township before he hit a ditch and was surrounded by armed officers on foot. Police say Shoffstall had a passenger in his vehicle during the chase and that they found intoxicating mushrooms in his possession, he remains in jail on charges for fleeing from police, reckless endangerment, DUI, and more.
Woman Becomes Erie’s 8th Traffic Fatality
Erie – Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook reported that a woman injured when she was hit by a car in a parking lot in Erie has died, the death was ruled accidental. 79-year-old Sylvia Nunamaker died while undergoing emergency surgery for multiple blunt force traumas sustained when she was run over by a vehicle attempting to enter a grocery store parking lot on Monday afternoon. The driver who hit her is cooperating with Erie City authorities, no charges have been filed. Sylvia is the 8th person killed in a traffic-related accident in the city of Erie this year.