Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Tashaun Letlow, 28, of Breeze Knoll Drive in Youngstown, pleaded no contest in Youngstown Municipal Court on Monday and was found guilty of an improper lane change in a July 8 crash on Interstate 680 that seriously injured a motorcyclist.

Letlow, who was driving a car in the crash, was fined $79 and ordered to pay court costs of $30.

The motorcyclist is Arthur Smith, 52, of Youngstown-Pittsburgh Road, Petersburg, who was not wearing a helmet, according to a report released by the Youngstown Police Department Monday after the crash investigation was completed.

The crash took place on I-680 northbound near the Glenwood Avenue exit.

The minor misdeameanor charge against Letlow was filed Oct. 3, according to court records.

On the day of the crash, police went to the hospital to speak to Smith, but he said he could not remember anything.

Letlow told police he had looked in his mirror and did not see anyone, then struck the motorcyclist as he changed lanes.

He was not suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs and was not suspected of being distracted, police said.

After consulting with prosecutors, the lane change was the “only valid charge,” investigators said in their report.