Chase of stolen van ends in crash in Donegal Township
A Morgantown, W.Va., woman thought she was helping a woman who was down on her luck only to awake Saturday morning to find the van she uses to transport her disabled son gone, along with the woman she tried to help.
Kenndal Justine Russell, 23, of Muse, and a man who was in the van with her, Daniel Ammons, 30, of 6550 Bell Run Road, Spraggs, were taken into custody Monday night after leading Washington and state police on a chase in the stolen van that started in the city and ended in a crash off a trail along railroad tracks in Donegal Township, police said.
Autum Johnson of Morgantown, in a Facebook message, said money was raised to purchase the van as a safe means of transportation for her disabled son. She said Russell reached out to her about a week ago, saying she was homeless.
“I gave her a warm bed, clothing, food, the works,” Johnson said in a Facebook message. “I put off paying two bills to help her out. Then, Saturday morning I wake up to my purse full of important paperwork and my van stolen.”
Johnson reported the van missing to Morgantown police.
City police Officer Kent Mitchell was on patrol about 8:30 p.m. when he spotted a van he believed was the stolen vehicle turning onto Hart Avenue, then turning onto Ewing Street and Hayes Avenue. A 911 dispatcher verified the van had been stolen. As the van approached Wilmington Street in Canton Township, Mitchell activated his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to stop it.
The van sped up, going through several stops signs as it continued on Wilmington and turned onto Baird Avenue before turning west on West Chestnut Street. Police said the van went through a red light at North Ring Road in North Franklin Township before getting on Interstate 70 westbound.
State police joined the pursuit, which continued through an active work zone on the highway. The van got off at the Claysville exit and made a left on Route 40 (Old National Pike). The van eventually made a right into the parking lot for the Donegal Township building in the village of West Alexander. It went through the lot and onto a trail along old railroad tracks behind the building. The van then crashed into a concrete barrier on the trail.
Russell and Ammons are charged by state police with fleeing or attempting to elude police and receiving stolen property. Russell also is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. Both were arraigned before District Judge James Ellis. Russell was placed in Washington County jail on $50,000 bond. Ammons was jailed on $2,500 bond. They are scheduled for a May 30 preliminary hearing before District Judge Ethan Ward.