‘Lucky’ missing in NC after car, dog thief busted in 120 mph chase and crash, Nash County deputies say

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WNCN) — A man wanted for stealing a dog in a car theft in Pennsylvania was caught after a three-county 120 mph chase ended in a crash in North Carolina on Saturday night, deputies said.

Kenneth Wilson Crider, 43, was wanted after stealing a dog and car nearly a week ago in East Huntingdon, Westmoreland County in Pennsylvania, according to CBS affiliate KDKA and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office.

Car keys were stolen from a man at a Tractor Supply store and the suspect took off in the man’s car — which contained a 10-year-old Airedale-terrier mix named Lucky, according to Pennsylvania State Police via KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

On Saturday evening, deputies received a call about a suspicious car near Octavia Drive in Dortches, near Interstate 95, Nash County Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies arrived and tried to identify the driver of the car, but the man driving took off — at one point striking at Nash County deputy’s car, officials said.

The suspect then took off north on I-95 into Halifax and then Northampton counties. At times, the chase exceeded 120 mph, deputies said.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol assisted in the chase, “eventually removing the vehicle from the roadway” about a mile from the Virginia state line, deputies said.

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Crider, of Poolesville, Maryland, was identified as the driver but Lucky the dog was nowhere to be found, officials said.

Lucky, who was first taken on Sept. 23, was likely released at a rest area in North Carolina along Interstate 95 in or south of Nash County, deputies said.

KDKA reported Lucky’s family is offering a $500 reward. Lucky wears a black collar and a flea collar, which are connected with a zip tie, the TV station reported.

Crider was charged with reckless driving, felony hit and run, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen vehicle, felony flee to elude law enforcement and failure to stop for lights and sirens.

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