AMHERST TWP. — An Amherst man has died and a Lorain woman is in critical condition after being LifeFlighted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland after an accident this morning.

The two-vehicle accident happened about 7:40 a.m. at Middle Ridge and Oberlin roads, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Rebecca Stottlemire, 55, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee south on Middle Ridge when she lost control and went left of center, according to Trooper Krystal Evans. Stottlemire’s vehicle struck a Chevy Impala driven by George Thompson, 60, “pretty much head on,” according to Evans.

Both vehicles went off the road, Evans said. Stottlemire’s car struck a utility pole, and Thompson’s car went over the top of some landscaping.

Thompson died at the scene, and Stottlemire was taken first to Amherst Hospital and then flown to Cleveland.

Stottlemire has not been cited, and the accident remains under investigation, Evans said.

Read Friday’s Chronicle for more on this story.

ELYRIA — An Avon woman whose 3-month-old daughter died last year after she was found not breathing in her mother’s bed has been charged with endangering children.

Ault

Melissa Ault, 29, was arrested Monday after being indicted by a county grand jury last week.

The baby, Delaney Powell, was found the morning of April 3, 2008, lying face down in her mother’s bed at Ault’s Elizabeth Drive home.

Paramedics gave Delaney CPR and she was rushed to Avon Emergency Care Center before being flown to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, where she was pronounced dead.

Lorain County Prosecutor Dennis Will said Delaney’s death spurred the investigation into Ault.

“Her condition at the time of the baby’s death was something that violated the duty of care,” he said.

Will said Ault’s actions put Delaney at risk, but he wouldn’t comment on the details of what the investigation revealed.

“They were obviously issues of an endangering nature,” he said.

If convicted of the charge of endangering children, Ault could receive up to five years in prison. Will said that if the evidence had shown that Ault had caused Delaney’s death, she would be facing more serious charges.

Last month, Ault was convicted of theft and identity fraud in an unrelated case in county Common Pleas Court stemming from charges that originated in Avon Lake Municipal Court in December, court records show. She received three years probation.

She also was convicted of DUI in Avon Lake Municipal Court in March of last year, according to court records.

Ault is being held in the county jail on a $15,000 bond.

Contact Brad Dicken at 329-7147 or bdicken@chroniclet.com and Adam Wright at 329-7129 or awright@chroniclet.com.

PITTSFIELD TWP. — A two-car accident this morning at Quarry Road and state Route 20 in Pittsfield Township sent at least three people to the hospital, according to Lt. Bill Brown of the Wellington Fire Department.

A Ford Focus and a Subaru Outback were involved in the accident, which happened a little after 9 a.m.

A man carrying an infant was seen exiting one of the vehicles involved in the accident and disappearing into the woods. He was located, Brown said, and he and the infant may receive medical attention as well.

The other three sent to Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin were a woman from Amherst, who was a passenger in the Subaru, and two teenage girls from the Focus. The man and infant were in the Focus as well, Brown said.

Check back at Chroniclet.com for more on this story as it becomes available.

The National Weather Service has lifted a wind advisory for Lorain County and much of northern Ohio that will was in effect until noon today.

West winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts around 45 mph continued into late morning then dimished to diminish as the deep low responsible for the strong winds moved farther from the region.

Winds of these magnitudes can cause minor property damage without extra precautions. Motorists in high-profile vehicles were urged to use caution.

A gale warning remains in effect until 9 tonight and a low-water advisory until midnight for Lake Erie off Lorain County and all of northern Ohio. West gales to 40 knots will gradually diminish this afternoon and evening. Waves will average 8 to 12 feet this morning and subside to 5 to 8 feet by evening.

Check back at Chroniclet.com or go to the National Weather Service Web site for more weather information.

Fire and rescue squads around the county responded to a handful of reports of wires down and trees blocking roadways overnight and this morning but were reporting no serious incidents. Henrietta Hajes, who lives on Delaware Avenue in Elyria, said a large tree in her backyard was blown over a little after midnight, damaging a fence and keeping her neighbor from going in or out of his garage.

See weather news happening? Let The Chronicle know about it! Contact us at 329-7155 or ctnews@chroniclet.com. Snap a weather picture? Send it to us at ctphotos@chroniclet.com.lifted