Police say 14 victims struck by U-Haul fleeing during chase from Pulaski to Youngstown

Scott Pelton

A 27-year-old Leavittsburg man faces charges in Ohio and Pennsylvania after police say he led officers on a chase in a U-Haul truck from Lawrence County to Youngstown, crashing into several vehicles and injuring people along the way.

Scott Pelton is in the Mahoning County jail on assault, property destruction, and fugitive charges following his arrest Thursday night along McCartney Road in Youngstown.

Youngstown Police were called to a used car lot near Sixth Street, where they say Pelton was being held at gunpoint by officers from Pulaski, Coitsville, and Campbell.

The U-Haul truck Pelton had been driving was damaged after running into a utility pole and half a dozen cars in the used auto lot.

Police say those weren’t the only vehicles damaged.

While fleeing police west along Route 422, police say the U-Haul ran into several vehicles along the way, including a church van.

The driver of the church van and two juvenile passengers were hospitalized, as well as four others whose vehicles were struck.  Police say there were a total of 14 victims.  The police report does not give information on the severity of their injuries.

According to Pulaski Police, Pelton almost ran into one of their cruisers as they were chasing him.

Pulaski Police charged Pelton with one felony count of Fleeing Police, as well as Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangering, and DUI.

The Youngstown Police report also notes that the U-Haul was carrying as many as sixty tires, and Pelton could face another felony charge if he didn’t have the license required to transport more than ten tires at a time in Ohio.