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Mark Norcross Critically Injured in Hit & Run Accident

Mark Norcross was critically injured in a tragic hit & run accident Tuesday September 23, 2008.


"Mark Norcross, a well-known martial arts trainer and ultimate fighter is battling for his life in a Toledo hospital — the victim of a brutal hit-and-run accident.

The man accused of the hit-and-run, Shawn Caston, served time in prison for an infamous drive-by shooting.
Mark L. Norcross, 35, 500 block Tiffin Ave., is in a coma at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo with a brain injury, family members said.

He's listed in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit. He has undergone two surgeries and suffered a broken femur.

"We're all trying to stay strong for Mark. That's all we can do. It's pretty much in the Lord's hands," said Christine Norcross, Mark's aunt.

Norcross was riding his 1998 Harley-Davidson east on Cleveland Road early Tuesday morning when Shawn Caston, driving a 2002 Dodge Intrepid, sped out of the parking lot of the Value Inn, slammed into the motorcycle and sped away, Sandusky police said.

Police spotted Caston's car fleeing from the crash scene and caught him behind a home on South Larchmont Street after a foot chase. Caston was drunk at the time of the crash, police said.

Caston, 42, has a long history of run-ins with the law. He was one of three men who were sent to prison in the 1994 drive-by shooting murder of Vivian Johnson. Caston was the trigger-man in the shooting, Sandusky acting police Chief Charlie Sams said. Sams was one of the investigators in the case.

Caston was granted a new trial by a federal appeals court and was found guilty of manslaughter in the subsequent trial. He served more prison time on that conviction, Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter said.
Sandusky Municipal Court records show other hit-skip and drunken driving charges against Caston. He pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle under the influence on March 31.

Caston pleaded not guilty Friday in Sandusky Municipal Court to vehicular assault, obstructing and hit-skip charges. Sandusky Municipal Court Judge Erich J. O'Brien set his bond at $30,677.
Caston was also charged with operating a vehicle under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. As of Friday night he remained in the Erie County Jail. His preliminary hearing must occur in the next 10 days, O'Brien said.

Norcross' family members are incensed that Caston did not stop to see if Norcross was injured and that Caston was out on the streets.

"I've hit animals and stopped to see how they were doing," Mary Shephard said. "The guy left him for dead." Shephard is the mother of Norcross' finance.

Christine Norcross, Mark's aunt, seethed with anger when she spoke of Caston's actions.
"He's going to burn in hell. He's going to going to burn in hell," she said.

Norcross, who has two sons, runs the T.A.P. Training Center at 145 Columbus Ave. Family members say he's known for his work with youngsters who train at his gym. Friday afternoon the building stood dark, and a hand-written note told students Norcross was injured and classes would resume on Monday.

A professional mixed martial arts fighter and an extreme combat trainer, Norcross holds a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a black belt in bushido-goschen ju-jitsu, and a second-degree black belt in mixed martial arts.

"He's a fighter and always been a fighter. We're hoping that will help him pull through now," Christine Norcross said.

Shephard said the family has been inundated with phone calls from friends and associates inquiring about his condition.

Christina Luberda, Norcross' fiancee, is keeping a bedside vigil.
"The doctors say he doesn't know anybody is with him, but I'd like to think he knows I'm here," she said.
Luberda said she plans to provide an update on Norcross' condition on his Web site, www.tapbjj.com. "

Story written by Mike Fitzpatrick of the Sandusky Register

RE: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/09/27/front/913084.txt

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Caston Pleads Not Guilty:

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 7:54pm.

Caston Pleads Not Guilty: Friday September 26, 2008

"The driver of the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run early Tuesday morning pleaded not guilty in Sandusky Municipal Court today to charges stemming from the crash.

Shawn W. Caston, 42, of Sandusky pulled out of a driveway at the Value Inn on Cleveland Road and smashed into Mark L. Norcross, 35, also of Sandusky as he was traveling eastbound on his 1998 Harley Davidson.

Caston was charged with aggravated vehicular assault, obstructing, leaving the scene of an accident, operating a vehicle impaired and failure to yield right of way on private property, according to the report.

Norcross is in critical but stable condition at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo."

Story Provided by the Sandusky Register RE: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/09/26/front/912181.txt

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Mark Norcross Begins to

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 7:59pm.

Mark Norcross Begins to Recover: Saturday, September 27, 2008

"Mark Norcross is making progress.

The 35-year-old is responding to verbal commands and gave a family member the thumbs up sign Sunday evening when asked how he was doing, his fiance Christina Luberda said.

"It came out of nowhere," Luberda said of his recovery"

Story by Mike Fitzpatrick of the Sandusky Register: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/09/29/front/917186.txt

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Caston in court; Norcross

Submitted by admin on Thu, 10/09/2008 - 8:07pm.

Caston in court; Norcross improving : Saturday, October 4th, 2008

"Shawn Caston was calm during his Friday morning appearance in Sandusky Municipal Court.

He did not appear to be distressed that he could face a maximum of seven years in prison and a fine of $30,000 if convicted of aggravated vehicular assault, obstructing and leaving the scene of an accident.

Police say 42-year-old Caston left Mark Norcross, 35, in the street after running into the popular martial arts teacher in a hit-and-run crash in the early morning hours of Sept. 23. Norcross was traveling east on Cleveland Road on his 1998 Harley Davidson at 1:27 a.m., when police say Caston came out of the Value Inn parking lot and smashed into Norcross.

Caston, who police said was drunk at the time, fled the scene in his 2002 Dodge Intrepid. Police were able to capture him after a brief chase.

Norcross suffered severe head injuries and was in a coma for several days in a Toledo hospital.

Dressed Friday in a green county jail uniform, handcuffed and in shackles, Caston waived his right to a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Erich O'Brien.

Caston requested his personal belongings -- including a wallet -- seized by police during his arrest, be turned over to the mother of his child.

"OK, all right, I appreciate that," Caston told the judge when informed his personal belongings would be given to a family member.

O'Brien bound the case over to the grand jury. Caston remains in the Erie County jail on $30,000 bond.

Earlier this week Norcross' fiancee reported he was responding to verbal cues.

According to Norcross' Web site, he's begun eating pureed foods and was taken off a ventilator.

Caston has a long criminal history. He's been charged several times for hit-and-run and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

He also served time in prison for the 1994 drive-by shooting death of a Sandusky woman. He was one of three men who were sent to prison in the 1994 murder of Vivian Johnson. Caston was the trigger-man in the shooting, Sandusky acting police Chief Charlie Sams said. Sams was one of the investigators in the case.

Caston was granted a new trial by a federal appeals court and found guilty of manslaughter in the subsequent trial. He served more prison time on that conviction, Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter said.

Following Friday's court appearance, Caston signed paperwork. He spoke briefly with a friend, asking her to make sure he got a phone card in jail so he could make calls.

The woman, who identified herself as Theresa, said she's a friend of Caston. She said she was with Caston and friends the night of the crash.

"He's not a bad guy at all," she said. "It's a bad situation."

Story by Mike Fitzpatrick of the Sandusky Register RE: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2008/10/04/front/922362.txt


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