An Austintown man is being treated for what authorities say may be serious internal injuries after witnesses say he was struck in a township bar's parking lot by a jeep that then drove away.

Several people who officers spoke with early Friday claim that 48-year-old Nicholas Rescineto was hit by a Jeep that was spinning it's wheels and driving recklessly in the parking lot of Chipper's bar on Mahoning Avenue just before 1 a.m

The witnesses said that the man driving the Jeep had been arguing with his girlfriend inside the bar, but left after other patrons complained.

The girlfriend told investigators that several men were trying to fight with her boyfriend in the parking lot, and his Jeep struck Rescineto as it was backing up.

Rescineto, who witnesses said had been unresponsive was complaining about being in pain when police arrived. He was taken to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown. There has been no update on his condition.

Police traced the Jeep to an address in Niles and had it towed to the Austintown Police Department.

that hope to review surveillance video from a nearby business to get more information about the incident.

The police report does not give the name of the owner of the Jeep. The investigation is continuing.

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