Recordpub.com - Alcohol may be factor in Kent crash into river

By Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier staff writer

The driver of an SUV who splashed into the Cuyahoga River this past weekend is suspected of drinking prior to the crash and has been cited by the Kent Police Department.

Matthew R. Kubitza, a 26-year-old Akron resident, lost control of his silver Jeep Cherokee, drove down an embankment and plunged into the frigid waters below Middlebury Road around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. He suffered non-incapacitating injuries from the accident.

Kubitza was traveling southbound on Middlebury Road approaching the county-owned bridge over the Cuyahoga River. The bridge curves to the left, but Kubitza continued driving straight and drove off the right side of the roadway. The vehicle struck a tree at the river's edge on its way downhill into the water, according to a police report.

The driver crawled out of the SUV and swam to the river's south bank before climbing out of the water. He left the scene of the accident and walked some distance to a relative's home, according to the report. In a 2000 Portage County traffic court case Kubitza listed a Tallmadge address.

Kubitza told police he was driving 40 mph in the posted 25 mph zone.

He has been cited for failure to control his vehicle, which came to rest partially submerged in the river 284 feet west of the bridge.

Alcohol is suspected to have played a factor in the crash, according to the police report.

According to Portage County court records, Kubitza had his license suspended for six months in 2004 after being found guilty of driving a vehicle while intoxicated. Court records show he completed a DUI program. In 2000, a judge repealed an underage drinking citation, and twice in 2000 he received minor traffic citations.

A court appearance for Saturday's crash had not been set. Officers estimated the Jeep as a total loss.

59.	Posted by Wendijojo8 April 2, 2008
	Rageman, thank you so much for "enhancing" my posting. I am an intelligent person...that's how I knew you were a ranting crack head. Congratulations for reinforcing that fact. Oh and I think you watch Silence of the Lambs too much buddy! OH and to "shannyhot" do not mention me unless you know what you are talking about. I was addressing Rageman and his useless critique of this article. If I were in that situation I would have done the same thing...assuming(oh that made you mad didn't it)that no one was driving right there to pick me up or make a phone call. Also I would stop if I were driving by, but that is just the kind of person I am. I am a nurse and I would do what I could to help. I NEVER assumed he was drinking. Thanks

55.	Posted by meshelle_my_bell March 29, 2008
	You are getting me riled up again with your gay- bashing buckeye. You dont judge ey? Speaking of assumptions, you assume that I am of the female persuasion and because of your tiny little brain you assume that I am gay. You are quite wrong on both accounts. Shannyhoot, I do not always think I am better than everyone else. Sometimes, but not always. (My doc told me self-esteem was a good thing hee hee) If you read my comments you would know I am not as perfect as you make me out to be. We will just let the police and courts take this case from here. Sound good to you?

54.	Posted by buckeye29 March 28, 2008
	You sound very intelligent Shannyhot. I agree with you 110%!!!!! Some of these other people really need to heed your advice! You know one of the "golden rules" is "Thou shal not judge!" Now I'm far from a "Holy roller", but Who the hell am I to judge anyone else, and who the hell are people like Meshelle to judge this man? You hit it right on the head, she is afraid of criticism! You know I've made some posts on here where I lashed out at people for making "insanely" stupid comments because I was mad. Now I just feel sorry for these people like Meshelle that their lifes are so empty that they have nothing better to do than to make comments about a person that they don't even know. Get a life Meshelle, maybe you and your "life partner" can find some other avenue for your hate!

53.	Posted by shannyhot March 27, 2008
	the thing that bugs me the most is that people assume. u assume he was drinking...and u that think that try to come up with every little thing u can think of to make u feel right. the truth is a man drove into the river. the city knows that is a bad turn. they take down the railing cuz they got tired of fixing it from people hitting it over and over again. no one knows if he was drinking, but him...so y even report it in the news. and y bring up his past. the only reason is to label him as a drunk n driver. also it so funny to read all these post saying that he did the wrong thing leaving the scene. Meshelle and Wendijojo8: what would u have done in his shoes? THE SAME THING. also would u have stopped and picked him up if u was driving by....NO YOU WOULDN'T. so don't sit there and act like ur better than everyone else. and never did anything wrong in ur whole lifetime. here's a little fact for u that my doc told me. "putting urself on a peddelstool means, ur affraid of ur past and affraid of criticism." so stop and think about the stupid things u did in the past before u criticize someone else. AND YES STILL WAITING FOR AN APOLOGY!!!!