RIPON — A 2003 Mitsubishi being test driven by a potential buyer was carjacked at a Ripon truck stop Thursday evening with Galt police officers arresting the suspect on Highway 99 where he had parked on the side of the freeway some five hours later.
Kelly Hughes, 25, of Seymour, Indiana, had shown interest in buying the car from a 52-year-old north Modesto resident who had gone on a test drive with him to Ripon.
Officers said when the men went to switch drivers near Luv’s Truck Stop, Hughes sped off knocking the car’s owner to the ground. He received facial lacerations from hitting the ground being caught up in the door, police said.
Ripon Police officer Matt Ford gave the victim a ride back home after paramedics treated him at the scene. Ford found the suspect’s aunt and uncle from Oakdale and Modesto waiting for him to return to give him a ride to their home saying they were surprised by his actions.
They noted that he had recently said he wanted to return home to Indiana. The vehicle was returned to the owner in Modesto. Hughes is currently in the Sacramento County Jail on carjacking charges.
Kelly Hughes, 25, of Seymour, Indiana, had shown interest in buying the car from a 52-year-old north Modesto resident who had gone on a test drive with him to Ripon.
Officers said when the men went to switch drivers near Luv’s Truck Stop, Hughes sped off knocking the car’s owner to the ground. He received facial lacerations from hitting the ground being caught up in the door, police said.
Ripon Police officer Matt Ford gave the victim a ride back home after paramedics treated him at the scene. Ford found the suspect’s aunt and uncle from Oakdale and Modesto waiting for him to return to give him a ride to their home saying they were surprised by his actions.
They noted that he had recently said he wanted to return home to Indiana. The vehicle was returned to the owner in Modesto. Hughes is currently in the Sacramento County Jail on carjacking charges.
