Claysville man injured trying to prevent truck theft at I-79 crash scene
State police are searching for a man who crashed a car stolen in Washington on Interstate 79, then stole a pickup truck and dragged the owner of that vehicle, a Claysville man, down the highway.
Police said the driver of the stolen Kia Sportage lost control of the vehicle on I-79 southbound just before the Carnegie exit in Collier Township about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. The Kia traveled off the left side of the road and hit a guardrail separating the southbound and northbound lanes.
The drivers of multiple vehicles stopped to assist after witnessing the wreck.
When the driver of a Ford F150 pickup truck, 54-year-old Todd Krut of Claysville, was checking the wrecked Kia for any passengers, the driver of the Kia jumped into the truck and started to drive off.
Krut tried to prevent the theft and was dragged about 100 feet before falling onto the road. The thief exited the highway at the Carnegie exit. Krut was taken to Allegheny General Hospital for treatment. He was listed in fair condition Monday afternoon, said a hospital spokeswoman.
Alexandra Fullum awoke about 6 a.m. Saturday and discovered her mother’s black 2016 Kia gone from in front of their home at 93 Woodland Avenue.
Jeri Williams told Washington police she returned home Friday night from vacation and went to bed about 11:45 p.m.
Stolen from the house were a purse containing keys to the vehicle and credit cards belonging to Williams. The purse had been inside the front door of the home. Luggage was still in the vehicle.
State police are asking anyone with information to call them at 412-787-2000.