Monroe County crash victim had 2 recent tickets in area

4/1/2008

ERIE - A Toledo woman killed yesterday in a head-on collision on South Telegraph Road in Monroe County's Erie Township was recently cited for speeding on two occasions on the same stretch of highway.

The speeding offenses, which included driving 43 miles per hour over the posted limit, occurred days apart about three months ago.

Shana Burke, 30, of 5137 Planet Ave., was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7 a.m. crash on Telegraph near East Temperance Road. Deputies said she crossed the center line and collided with a southbound car driven by Bradley Castellese, 19, of Monroe.

Mr. Castellese was listed in serious condition in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo.

Monroe County District Court records show that Ms. Burke was caught going 98 miles per hour on Dec. 31, and four days later she was clocked at 70 mph, both in the same area on Telegraph. The speed limit there is 55 mph.

She also was given a citation for careless driving for the first offense. She paid the $395 fine and court costs for both tickets as well as the $145 fine and costs on the second violation.

Deputy Timothy George, who is investigating the accident, cited Ms. Burke for the Jan. 4 traffic offense. When asked why she was driving so fast on that occasion, he said, she replied that she was in a hurry to make an appointment.

"She had always been in a hurry. That was her comment that day. I do remember her saying that," the deputy said.

Whether speed had a role in the crash remains to be determined, Mr. George said, but alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.

The crash closed Telegraph, which is part of U.S. 24, to traffic for nearly 2 1/2 hours.