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MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 22, 2003 Woman critical after single-car crash Her brother faces charges for fleeing police, drunken driving A 26-year-old Ashland woman was critically injured after the vehicle she was a passenger in went-off the road on North Mountain Avenue early Sunday morning. Her brother, the driver of the vehicle, was intoxicated at the time of the crash according to police officials. Damian Marie Elizabeth Merlina suffered a severely severed arm and was airlifted to a hospital in Portland. She remains in critical condition, police officials said. Aaron Damian Merlina, 21, of Ashland was transported to Providence Medical Center in Medford. He was listed in serious condition this morning, a nursing supervisor said. At 1:54 a.m. Sunday morning, Aaron Merlina reportedly struck a parked vehicle in an alley behind N. Main Street near Blaine Street and fled the scene, Sgt. Bob Smith said. Merlina's vehicle was spotted by an officer, who attempted to make a traffic stop, Smith said. After a short pursuit, the vehicle sped away at more than 60 mph, he said. The pursuit was stopped due to safety reasons. But a short while later on North Mountain Avenue at Larspur, the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into some shrubs, Smith said. A nearby neighbor reported the crash about 5 minutes after the pursuit ended, police officials said. "They said they could hear people's voices crying for help," Smith said. Officers found the two siblings outside the vehicle, he said. It has not been determined if they were wearing seat belts. Aaron Merlina expressed regret over what happened, and was worried what his family was going to think when he talked to officers at the hospital, Smith said. Merlina will be arrested once he's released from the hospital, police officials said. Charges will include attempting to elude police, reckless driving, DUI, reckless endangerment and assault causing physical injury to another person. If Damian Merlina dies from her injuries, criminal negligence and manslaughter charges could be added, police officials said. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams