By Courtney Anderson
Herald Staff Writer
PERRY TOWNSHIP
May 12, 2008 09:20 pm
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Two area Amish men remain in critical condition after separate crashes last week on state Route 358 in Perry Township and two boys involved in one of the wrecks have been released from the hospital.
Benjamin Kempf and four Kempf children were hurt when Jennifer J. Crenshaw, who has been charged with drunken driving, hit their horse-drawn buggy Saturday evening, police said. Timothy Fredrick Alter was charged with driving the van that hit Erven Byler’s buggy and killed his horse on May 5 east of Hughey Road.
Kempf, 29, of 299 Carey Road, Perry Township, and Byler, 22, of 5824 Pine Road, East Fallowfield Township, Crawford County were both in critical condition Monday at St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Erma Kempf, 5, and Miriam Kempf, 1, were both in fair condition Monday at Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, said a hospital spokesmen. Their brothers David, 6, and Melvin, 4, were released from the hospital, the spokesman said.
Crenshaw, 38, of 7771 Timberlane, Geneva, Ohio, was also charged with aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence, accidents involving death or injury, failing to stop or render aid, reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, disregarding traffic lanes and failing to keep right, according to Mercer County court records.
Police said Ms. Crenshaw was traveling east between Small and Airport roads when her pickup truck crossed the center line and sheared off a utility pole. The truck rolled once and then hit the buggy, police said. The five members of the Kempf family were thrown from the buggy, police said.
Ms. Crenshaw was treated at UPMC Horizon, Greenville, for injuries, police said.
A state police trooper who answered the phone Monday at the Mercer barracks did not know if the horse survived the crash.
Alter, 29, of 90 Shenango Park Road, Lot 7, Pymatuning Township, is charged with hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, driving on a suspended license related to drunken driving, failing to stop and render aid or give information, failure to notify police of an accident and accident involving damage to attended property.
Police said Alter drove away after the accident and he was arrested May 6 after police got a tip about the van they were looking for being stored at a home on Perrine Road in Sandy Creek Township.
Ms. Crenshaw is free on bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge Lorinda Hinch, Mercer. Alter, who was taken to Mercer County Jail after failing to post bond, is set for a hearing Friday before Hinch.
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