East Palestine man gets three years for crash that killed companion

Staff report

LISBON

An East Palestine driver has been sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a wreck that claimed the life of a companion.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge David Tobin imposed the sentence Monday on Alex Porter, 25, of Roller Coaster Road, who was driving.

Porter and the victim, Gregory Burda, 29, were in a westbound pickup truck on state Route 558 in Unity Township about 11:30 p.m. May 21, 2009.

John Gamble, the chief assistant prosecutor, said that both men had been drinking.

The vehicle went off the north side of the road, struck two mailboxes and rolled over. Burda was ejected from the truck’s rear window and died of multiple injuries, authorities said.