Oct. 14--A man known to North Tonawanda police as a car thief was caught in the act of his most recent attempt and ended up in the hospital as a result.
Paul A. Hoyt, 34, was taken by Twin City Ambulance to Erie County Medical Center after he crashed a car he was allegedly trying to steal into a tree Friday evening.
According to North Tonawanda police, Hoyt tried to steal a Buick Regal from a home at 124 Lincoln Ave. around 5:30 p.m.
"People inside the home looked out the window and saw him in the driver's seat and they came running outside," said Lt. Scott Duerr. "They started banging on the window and he tried to flee."
Hoyt put the car in reverse and backed down the driveway. In his haste to escape, Hoyt struck a utility pole across the street with the driver's side of the car, then struck a tree at 127 Lincoln, where the car came to rest.
The car sustained heavy damage to the driver's side, including two blown-out tires and a smashed-in door.
Duerr said the extent of Hoyt's injures were unknown. He was treated by North Tonawanda firefighters before taken to ECMC.
According to Duerr, Hoyt is "a well-known car thief" who has been arrested several times by North Tonawanda police. He added Hoyt was unknown to the victims.
Hoyt's name appears in the Tonawanda News police blotter five times between Nov. 2008 and Nov. 2009. Two of the arrests were for grand larceny.
Police are still investigating the incident, but Duerr said initial charges against Hoyt will likely include unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, reckless driving and unsafe backing.
Copyright 2011 - Tonawanda News, North Tonawanda, N.Y.
