Two hurt in Monessen crash

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

One of two Monessen women who were involved in a “near head-on” crash on Grand Boulevard Thursday morning was in “very critical condition,” according to Monessen police. 

Police responded to a two-vehicle accident on the 1900 block of Grand Boulevard, near the City Park walking track, at 9:31 a.m. and found 68-year-old Janet Ratica unresponsive behind the wheel of her black Chevrolet sedan, which sustained damage to its front end, according to Officer Jeffrey Smaracheck.

Smaracheck said officers who responded to the scene were forced to cut the air bags out of Ratica’s car and immediately began performing “life-sustaining measures.”

She was taken to Monongahela Valley Hospital in Carroll Township via a Mon Valley Emergency Medical Services ambulance. Smaracheck did not provide an update on Ratica’s condition prior to presstime.

The officer said the accident is still under investigation, adding that it is believed that Ratica, who was traveling West on Grand Boulevard, suffered a medical emergency that caused her to veer into oncoming traffic.

The driver of the car Ratica struck, 60-year-old Valerie Rone-Osborne of Monessen, was also transported to MVH via ambulance to have a head injury examined, Smaracheck said, adding that Rone-Osborne was listed in stable condition.

Monessen police and Mon Valley EMS were assisted at the scene by Monessen Fire Department stations one and two and Rostraver West Newton EMS.