Arrest made in fatal crash in Warren

Five vehicles involved following police pursuit

To see the surveillance video of the crash, click here.

WARREN -- The first officer on scene of a deadly crash late Thursday told a Trumbull County 911 dispatcher "start a squad, it's gonna be pretty bad."

A surveillance video near the intersection of Parkman Road and West Market Street provided by Warren police captured the moment of impact that left one person dead and another facing a charge of aggravated vehicular homicide.

According to the Trumbull County Coroner's office, Anthony Blackwell, 34, of Warren, died as a result of the crash.

The official police report and identities of others involved in the five-vehicle crash have yet to be released.

What is known is the driver of the Toyota Prius, Joseph Myers, 31, of Houtzdale, Pa., who was fleeing from a traffic stop only moments before, appeared in court Friday. In addition to aggravated vehicular homicide, he is facing charges of failure to comply and felonious assault.

According to court reports, an automatic not-guilty plea was entered on the record for Myers and bond was set at $150,000. He is due back in court Thursday.

A video of the crash, taken from a traffic cam located at Tod Avenue and Market near the Hot Dog Shoppe, was provided to the Tribune Chronicle.

It shows the Toyota Prius speeding down the road into the intersection. As it nears the intersection, the Prius swerves left in passing stopped vehicles and then crashes into at least one vehicle (a utility pole in the video hides the actual impact from view). The impact violently sends a vehicle to the camera's right. It's not known at this time which -- or how many -- vehicles Myers' directly struck or in which vehicle Blackwell was an occupant.

According to a police report, an officer attempted to make a traffic stop on the Prius along Fulton Street, near Pine Street, for making an improper turn. The vehicle did not stop and a pursuit was started.

The officer followed the Prius at a high speed for a short time, but then terminated the pursuit on South Street near Market Street, according to the police report.

According to radio traffic between officers, provided by 911, the officer was going 60 mph at one point during the chase.

The posted speed limit on Market is 25 mph. It's not known at this time the estimated speed of the Prius.

"The officer terminated the pursuit just shy of a minute before the crash," said Lt. Bryan Holmes on Friday. "He (Myers) was still fleeing."

The officer who had been in pursuit did not see the crash take place, said Holmes.

According to the department's pursuit policy, "by its very nature, pursuit of a fleeing motor vehicle places the officer, the fleeing suspect and the public at risk of serious injury or death. It is a basic responsibility of Warren police officers to apprehend suspects whenever feasible; however, it is also the duty of every member of this agency to protect persons' lives as much as possible when enforcing the law."

When the officer started his pursuit, a sergeant came across the radio and asked the officer for his speed and reason for pursuit, according to police reports. After the officer replied he was driving 60 mph and provided the reason -- an improper turn -- he was told to terminate the pursuit, which he did.

According to reports, the officer told 911 he was familiar with the vehicle and was going to check an address where he thought the vehicle may be headed. On his way to the address, the officer came upon the crash.

In the past, Myers has been charged with theft, petty theft, not having an operator's license and expired, unlawful plates.