Sheriff’s office: Driver in weekend truck crash is 15 | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo courtesy of Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon said a 15-year-old driving that truck engaged police in a high-speed chase and later fled the vehicle on foot.

HUTTONSVILLE – After asking the public for information about a weekend chase, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday evening that the driver has been identified – and it is a 15-year-old juvenile.

According to a sheriff’s press release prepared by Senior Deputy Zachary Pingley, a 911 call on Saturday around 11 p.m. reported a Ford pickup truck spinning out of control on the road next to the Huttonsville Par-Mar. The vehicle “Many people were accommodated in the truck and on the loading area,” the press release states. Further emergency calls reported that the truck had left tracks on the road.

Pingley found an older Ford pickup truck on McAtee Drive, surrounded by “something that looked like flashlights”, according to the press release. Pingley turned on his vehicle’s hazard lights, drove behind the truck and got out to approach on foot when “The driver spun his tires and fled the traffic control.” Pingley pursued the truck with his high beams on through Huttonsville and into Mill Creek at speeds over 60 miles per hour.

At one point, near Linger Farms, the truck “spun out and almost hit a pedestrian walking on the road,” the press release states. The truck attempted to turn left onto Adolph Road, but “spun and struck the curb next to Pizza & Sub Shoppe, damaging the driver’s side rear tire.”

Pingley wrote that the driver of the truck “I fled on foot next to the Sub Shoppe onto Pond Street, where I lost sight after a foot pursuit.”

Pingley added: “There was a strong smell of alcohol in the vehicle and there was also a bottle of brandy. It was a drunk driver.”

After asking the public for information about the incident, the sheriff’s office announced Monday evening that the driver and other people involved in the incident had been identified.

“The driver was identified as a 15-year-old youth,” The press release from Monday evening states: “A petition is being filed in Randolph County District Court for juveniles for fleeing in a vehicle and on foot with reckless indifference. Senior Deputy Pingley has been in contact with the juvenile and his family.”

“The juvenile will also receive several citations, including for no driver, no insurance, false registration and expired MVI. An accident report will be prepared due to the accident in Mill Creek,” the releasing states.

Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon said: “I would like to thank the public for their quick response and support in this matter and for quickly resolving the dangerous situation.”