AMHERST TWP. — Two Ashland County residents were hurt — one seriously — in an accident yesterday evening on Middle Ridge Road.

The 2008 Pontiac G6 driven by Wilfredo Osorio Jr., 26, of Sullivan was westbound on Middle Ridge when it went off the left side of the road, sheered a utility pole in half and struck a tree, according to the State Highway Patrol. Osorio was taken to Amherst Hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening.

His passenger, Rachel Frahm, 26, also of Sullivan, sustained serious injuries and was nonresponsive at the scene. She was also taken to Amherst Hospital and was later LifeFlighted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland. She is in critical condition this morning.

According to the patrol, Osorio was not wearing a seat belt, and it is unknown whether Frahm was. The patrol suspects alcohol played a role in the crash.

LORAIN — A Wellington man had to be LifeFlighted after he was found lying in a tree lawn in South Lorain.

A resident called police after discovering the victim, Jason Rahning, 39, shortly after midnight.

Police who responded to Mercy hospital were told Rahning had a facial fracture, fractured jaw and severe laceration to his cheek. They said he was going to be LifeFlighted to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Rahning, who had difficulty speaking with officers because his jaw was broken and he was intoxicated, the report said, told them he was robbed by three young Hispanic males.

He said that when he told them he had no money, one struck him in the head with a baseball bat and he lost consciousness.

Rahning was treated and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

ELYRIA — A 16-year-old boy was shot in the neck early Friday morning as he drove a car that was being chased by another vehicle.

An officer patrolling near Paul’s Beverage on Lake Avenue spotted the two vehicles as they turned west from Foster Avenue onto Adams Street about 2:13 a.m., according to police. As they sped onto Lake Avenue, a male sitting behind the driver fired multiple shots at the other vehicle with a handgun.

The officer jumped into his patrol car for cover while radioing dispatch of the situation, police said.

More officers arrived to search the area and located one of the vehicles on West Avenue, north of Elm Street. The driver of that vehicle, 16-year-old Mark Grady of Elyria, had a gunshot wound to the back of his neck. Two other occupants were not hurt.

Police are still searching for the other vehicle, described as possibly a newer-model blue Chevy Impala.

Police said Grady was taken to EMH Regional Medical Center, but the hospital had no record of him being a patient there.

LORAIN — A Lorain man was arrested on multiple charges after he apparently fired shots at a car in Lorain yesterday afternoon.

Neely

Police responded to a report of shots fired at about 1:40 p.m. in the area of West 17th Street and Oakdale Avenue and wound up arresting Matthew Neely, 33.

Neely is facing charges of felonious assault with a weapon or ordnance, discharge of a firearm near a roadway, using weapons while intoxicated and receiving stolen property.

Police received a call of shots fired and spoke to Neely.

He told them he received a call and went outside to get money from individuals in a car. He said someone in the car grabbed him, however, dragging him for a distance and then a passenger shot at him. According to a police report, Neely was bleeding from his right forearm and elbow as well as his upper-right chest area.

He later admitted he had fired shots. It wasn’t clear from the report if anyone in the car had also fired shots. Neely went on to retrieve his gun from a bedroom in his home. He also admitted he had been drinking beer all day. According to a report, he asked officers to let him finish his beer before they took him in.

Neely was taken to the Lorain City Jail.