August 10, 2011, ERIE, PA — A Corry man is reported to have stolen a pickup and then caused a head-on Pennsylvania car collision that seriously injured a young woman from Fredonia, Pennsylvania.*
Police have arrested Shawn Stroup, 21, and placed him in the Crawford County jail. Stroup is reported to have stolen a 1994 Dodge pickup truck from a residence in Bloomfield Township Monday night. He was driving the stolen pickup east on Route 77 in Sparta Township near 7:40 a.m. when the Pennsylvania car accident occurred. Reportedly, the hood of the stolen vehicle flew open, blocking Stroup’s vision. Stroup then drove the vehicle into the westbound lanes and struck a 1994 Geo Prism being driven by the victim of the PA car crash.
The Pennsylvania accident victim’s injuries are not known but are reported to be serious. She was taken by ambulance to UPMC Hamot. Hospital officials have not yet confirmed her presence at the hospital or the condition of her car crash injuries.
As a result of the Pennsylvania auto accident, Stroup was charged with unlawful taking or disposition and with Pennsylvania accidents involving death or serious personal injury while not properly licensed.
Our hopes and prayers are with the young Fredonia woman for a quick and complete recovery.
Pennsylvania Stolen Car Accidents Present Legal Challenges
The young woman who was injured in this accident faces more challenges than she knows. Unlike most car accidents, in which the at-fault driver has insurance which should pay to compensate the innocent injured party, Pennsylvania stolen auto crashes often involve drivers who are uninsured. This means that the injured person’s only source of compensation may be from their own Pennsylvania car insurance policy’s Uninsured Motorist Coverage .
A prompt consult with a good Erie car accident attorney or Pennsylvania insurance claims lawyer would be helpful for the young woman from Fredonia (or a concerned family member) to make sure that proper notice is provided to the relevant Pennsylvania car insurance companies and that all appropriate measures are taken to identify available sources of insurance coverage.
Contact a Pennsylvania Accident Lawyer
For more information on Pennsylvania car collisions, visit our car accident page or take advantage of our offer to give you a free book, “The Ultimate Guide to Car Accident Cases in Pennsylvania: A Roadmap to Justice.” We are car accident attorneys in Erie, Pennsylvania who believe in providing free information to the public about car accident injuries and the cases that result from them. To schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Erie injury lawyers, call today toll free at 814-273-2010 or locally at 814-273-2010.
* Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., P.C. are Pennsylvania injury lawyers who are committed to educating the public about accidents and injuries in Erie County, Crawford County, Warren County and Venango County. Beginning August 1, 2011, Purchase, George & Murphey, P.C., P.C. has determined that names of car accident victims will not be published out of respect for the victim and their family. Accident victim names may be published here in those circumstances where the victim is a public figure or the victim’s identity is important for reasons of story or message.