Beacon Journal staff report
A Canton woman died after she was ejected from a car driven by a man fleeing police, according to State Highway Patrol troopers.
Stephanie Casto, 21, died of her injuries Saturday morning at Aultman Hospital in Canton.
Troopers say she was a passenger inside a car Christopher Dinger, 27, of Canton, was driving. He is being held in the Stark County Jail on charges of cocaine and marijuana possession.
Dinger is accused of fleeing troopers and crashing his car on Tuscarawas Street East in Canton.
The patrol said Dinger also had a suspended driver’s license and a pending arrest warrant for failing to appear in court on another case.
In addition, tests conducted after the crash show he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.088 percent, just above the legal limit.
Troopers say they initially stopped Dinger on Cherry Street Southeast about 12:30 a.m. for speeding. When the trooper exited his cruiser, Dinger sped away.
He was eastbound on Tuscarawas Street when his car spun and struck a curb.
Casto was ejected from the vehicle, and Dinger ran off, troopers said. He was caught a short time later and was treated for minor injuries at Aultman Hospital.
The crash remains under investigation and troopers anticipate more charges once Canton city prosecutors review the case.
