Court hearing postponed for car chase suspect

SHARON — A preliminary hearing for a man facing a host of charges after a car chase, crash and fight with police Sept. 14 in Sharon was continued Thursday.

A hearing for Kevin Washington Jr., 49, whose last known address was 1159 Wallis Ave., has been set for Oct. 16 in Sharon’s district court.

Washington was arraigned on 18 charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, after he was arrested Sept. 23 in Meadville after he escaped Sept. 16 from a Youngstown hospital.

Police tried to stop Washington’s car about 7 p.m. Sept. 14 after he ran a stop sign at New Castle Avenue and Malleable Street. Washington ran a Sharon police cruiser off the road, crashed his car into a tree on Prindle Street and fought police who tried to arrest him, spitting blood in one of their faces, police said.

Washington was returned to Mercer County Jail after failing to post $200,000 bond.

3 critically hurt in crash that closed Route 208

PINE TOWNSHIP — Three people injured in a crash Wednesday morning on state Route 208 in Pine Township were in critical condition Thursday at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh.

The crash closed part of Route 208 between Blacktown Road and Pine Top Drive for several hours, PennDOT officials said.

Scott L. Grossman, 27, of Grove City, was heading west at about 9:35 a.m. on 208 when he crossed the center of the road and hit a garbage truck driven by James Odum, 35, of Niles, Ohio, police said. Grossman’s minivan went off the road and hit a tree, while the garbage truck hit a fence and utility pole, police said.

Grossman and passengers Gloria Grossman, 56, and Jerry Grossman, 73, both of Grove City, were all taken to the Pittsburgh hospital, police said. Odum was treated at Grove City Medical Center, Pine Township, a hospital spokesperson said.

Information on the crash was unavailable Wednesday night, police said.

Man hurt in motorcycle crash in critical condition

SHARPSVILLE — A Hempfield Township man remained in critical condition Thursday at a Pittsburgh hospital after a motorcycle crash Sept. 16 in Sharpsville, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Tom Holliday, 30, of 605 Mercer Road, crashed his motorcycle about 1 a.m. into a utility pole at Walnut Street and Mercer Avenue, police said.