PHOTOS: Car Crashes Into School Steps

According to the police report, on November 5th at approximately 2:00a.m., an Ellwood officer was monitoring traffic on the corner of Lawrence Ave. and Fourth St. when a black Mercedes C230 sped east on Lawrence Ave. approaching the stop sign on Fourth failing to stop for the sign and then slamming on the brakes to turn sharply into B&B Express’s parking lot to avoid colliding into gas pumps. The driver then pulled out of B&B’s parking lot and continued traveling north on Fourth St.

The officer pulled out behind the vehicle and observed it swerving all over the road almost striking parked vehicles and an oncoming car. The officer conducted a traffic stop with the vehicle, northbound on Fourth and Spring. While calling in the traffic stop to dispatch, the officer observed the driver open and close the drivers door several times.

The officer safely approached the vehicle but upon reaching the drivers side trunk, the driver sped off toward Lincoln High School on Crescent Ave. The Mercedes failed to break, resulting in the vehicle crashing head on into the front steps of Lincoln High School, traveling airborne up and over the front steps, hitting and damaging the black light pole, and bounce back down on the sidewalk front steps.

The officer approached the wrecked vehicle and observed a middle aged man slumped over the center console, bleeding from his head and nose, unconscious but breathing. The fire department and medics were called to the scene to remove the male from the vehicle, further stating a strong smell of alcohol was emitting from the driver’s breath.

The driver was identified as 63 year old Mark Vranesevic, of Moon Township. Vranesevic’s license was DUI suspended and expired since 1981; he also had an eight page driving record with four DUI’s in the past five years.

Vranesevic was life flown to Pittsburgh and remains in critical condition.

Photos courtesy of Ellwood City Police Department.