Ebensburg man critically injured in morning crash

EBENSBURG – An Ebensburg man was critically injured when his car ran into the rear of a tractor-trailer around 12:15 a.m. Monday on Route 22 at Mini-Mall Road.

Brian E. Rio, 21, was taken by medical helicopter to Memorial Medical Center, where he was in critical condition Monday night.

Police said a rig, eastbound on Route 22 and operated by Paul A. Hayes, 45, of Maynarville, Tenn., had just started moving after receiving the green light at the intersection when Rio, also eastbound on 22, and traveling at a high speed, ran into the rear of Hayes’ rig.

Police said Rio was not wearing a seat belt. Police said the investigation is ongoing into the possibility that alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash.

The Ebensburg and Blacklick Valley ambulance services and Dauntless Fire Company assisted at the scene.

Shooting death

ruled accidental

ROCHESTER MILLS – Indiana County Coroner Mike Baker has ruled that the shooting death of a Rochester Mills man at a Grant Township farm Sunday evening was accidental.

The coroner said 20-year-old Brian Marshall Morgan died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A witness told authorities that the man apparently believed the .22-caliber handgun was unloaded when he placed it to his head and pulled the trigger.

The state police and the coroner’s office investigated.

12-year-old girl hurt

after being hit by car

PORTAGE – A 12-year-old Portage Township girl was injured in a car-pedestrian accident about 5 p.m. Monday on Portage Street, Route 53, in Portage Borough.

The girl, whose name was not released because of her age, was taken to Memorial Medical Center, borough police said. Her condition was not available.

Police said the girl, along with some friends, was attempting to cross at the roadway crossing after having been at a shopping center.

The girl was talking on a cell phone and not paying attention when she ran in front of the car, police said.

Traffic was heavy at the time and thus moving slowly, police said.

The driver of the car was identified as Ryan Yurchik, 27, of Portage. He is not facing any charges, police said.

Another charged in

underage sexual assault

A third man has been charged in connection with an underage drinking party Feb. 29 at a Solomon Homes apartment.

Jamal Myers, 18, of the 700 block of Menoher Boulevard, Johnstown, was charged by city police with statutory sex assault, terroristic threats and other offenses.

He was arraigned late last week before District Judge Leonard Grecek, of Roxbury. Myers remained in the Cambria County Prison on Monday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Police said he had sex with a 14-year-old girl. He also is charged with threatening to kill the girl and a 19-year-old woman, who was at the party, if he saw them again to keep them from testifying.

Earlier last week, two other men were charged with sex offenses for their roles during the party.

Police seeking tips

about Somerset thefts

SOMERSET – Borough police are asking the public’s help in solving two retail thefts March 15.

A white male in his early 20s with shoulder-length hair and wearing a black trench coat stole 22 children’s DVDs from Christian Book Store & Office Supply, 304 W. Main St.

Later that day, a white male with a medium build, short dark hair and wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans entered the Six Pack Shop of Maggie Mae’s Neighborhood Cafe on North Center Avenue and made off with two 12-packs of Budweiser.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Somerset police: 445-4596.

New warden named

at Bedford jail

BEDFORD – A new warden is taking over at Bedford County Jail following the January resignation of Brian Clark.

Daniel S. Keen, 31, of Bellefonte, Centre County, was hired at an annual salary of $43,000 . He will begin his duties at the 100-plus inmate facility next week.

Keen has nearly a decade of experience in the corrections field, officials said. He worked for four years at Clinton County Correctional Facility in Lock Haven and for five years at a prison in Montgomery County, Md.

County Commissioner Steve Howsare said Keen was selected from among nine applicants for the post.

Longtime jail official Patricia Welsh served as acting warden during the past three months.

Committee advances

Wozniak gaming bill

HARRISBURG – A state Senate committee has approved a bill by Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, intended to make sure Pennsylvania’s small and mid-sized communities receive their share of proceeds from the state’s new gaming industry.

Senate Bill 1286 amends the gaming law to prevent Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from receiving more revenue from the gaming fund until at least $1.5 billion is distributed to other towns for economic development.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh were the first beneficiaries of the gaming industry, although no casinos have yet opened in those cities. State law prohibits them from receiving additional money for 10 years. Wozniak’s bill changes the 10-year provision to ensure equal money is distributed to other parts of the state in the meantime.

The bill will have to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee before it heads to the full Senate for a vote.

St. Francis fraternity

students set for Sleep-out

LORETTO – The brothers of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity at St. Francis University again will participate in their annual Habitat for Humanity’s 36-Hour Sleep-out from 7 a.m. Friday to

7 p.m. Saturday on the university campus.

During the event, the students will be collecting donations to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

Escaped inmate

nabbed after two years

LORETTO – An escapee from Federal Correctional Institution at Loretto has been captured in New York after two years as a fugitive.

Michael Hill walked away from the minimum-security prison camp on Christmas Day 2005. An investigation by U.S. marshals from Johnstown focused on the New York City area.

On Monday, deputies from New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Hill at the Brooklyn residence of Ericka Griffin, after locating him in a rear bedroom. Hill gave officers a false name but was positively identified by agents.

Hill was serving a 191/2-year sentence on federal drug charges after being convicted in North Carolina.