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LISBON -- Two teenagers involved in a car crash after fleeing from authorities in the early hours of Sunday were both in County Municipal Court facing felony charges on Monday.
March 16 preliminary hearings and pretrials were set for both the driver Tyler P. Faulkner, 18, Ellyson Road, East Rochester, and Anthony J. Welsh, 19, Quaker Church Road, East Rochester. Faulkner is charged with a felony charge of failure to comply with an order of law enforcement and misdemeanor charges of no license, marked lanes, a stop sign violation and resisting arrest. Welsh is facing a felony obstructing official business charge.
According to a report by the Columbiana County Sheriff Office, the teenagers were in a 1997 Lincoln, which had committed several traffic violations starting in Minerva. Deputies were called to assist in the pursuit at 12:54 a.m. Sunday when the Highway Patrol informed them the vehicle was traveling at speeds of more than 100 mph and driving recklessly. Deputy Damin Beadnell saw the vehicle on Gavers Road near state Route 518 and watched the vehicle commit several marked lanes violations, as well as failing to stop at the stop signs.
Beadnell report states he saw the vehicle traveling at speeds more than 100 mph, swerving all over the road and nearly striking two other vehicles driving on the road. The vehicle crashed into a ditch near the intersection of Bethesda and the driver, Faulkner, ran from the vehicle into an open field. Beadnell, one of the sheriff's K-9 handler, warned Faulkner to stop or K-9 Hunter would be released, but Faulkner ran on. K-9 Hunter apprehended him. Faulkner was checked by EMTs and signed a refusal for medical treatment.
According to court documents, Welsh allegedly urged Faulkner to go and not stop when first the Minerva police, then the highway patrol and the sheriff deputies were trying to pull them over before the vehicle crashed at the intersection Bethesda and Gavers Roads.
djohnson@mojonews.com