WFMJ.com News weather sports for Youngstown-Warren OhioSuspect Answers to Charges in Austintown Cruiser Crash

Suspect Answers to Charges in Austintown Cruiser Crash

The suspect in a fiery crash involving an Austintown police cruiser answer to the felony charge of aggravated vehicular assault this morning.

The misdemeanor charges against 22-year-old Adrien Foutz of Girard have now been dismissed.

And Youngstown City Prosecutor Jay Macejko says a portable breathalizer shows Foutz blood alcohol level at .279.

That's more than 3 times the legal limit, but a blood test is also being done.

Police believe the Girard woman was drunk when she crashed into Officer Ross Linert's cruiser early Sunday morning, causing his vehicle to explode.

Linert remains hospitalized with burns over 30-percent of his body.

Austintown Police Chief Bob Gavalier says Linert is scheduled to undergo skin graft surgeries tomorrow. "The next 48 hours are the most critical right now and they probably won't be able to tell us a little more they said at least another 5 days to see how he's doing," Chief Gavalier explains.

Police say Foutz was going at least twice the 35 mile an hour speed limit. A condition of her 25-thousand dollar bond is that she is not permitted to drive.