A Beckley homeowner found an abandoned car in her backyard after police say it crashed through a wooden fence and was left on her property.
Officers responded June 20 to a report of a vehicle that had left the roadway and come to rest behind a home, according to LootPress. Dispatchers told officers the homeowner had found an unoccupied red Hyundai on her property.
Investigators reported damage to the yard and fence, including broken posts and boards that appeared to have been struck by the vehicle.
The homeowner estimated the property damage at about $586.
The Homeowner Found the Car After a Strange Question
WJLS reported that the homeowner told police she had been outside when a homeless man approached and asked whether anyone was inside the car. She then found the abandoned Hyundai in her backyard.
The reports did not say anyone was injured. Police said the vehicle was recovered and towed from the crash scene.
Police Connected the Hyundai to an Earlier Encounter
Officers recognized the Hyundai from an earlier encounter involving William Delaney, according to the Beckley Police Department account cited by both local outlets.
Police said Delaney had briefly spoken with officers outside the Beckley Police Department earlier that day before driving away toward Neville Street.
Charges Are Being Sought
Investigators later contacted the vehicle’s registered owner. She told police Delaney had been acting strangely that morning and said he took her vehicle without permission before later returning without it.
Based on the investigation, Beckley police are seeking charges against Delaney for unauthorized use of a vehicle, commonly called joyriding, and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage.
A Yard Crash Should Be Treated as a Police Scene First
If a homeowner finds an abandoned vehicle in the yard, the first step is to keep distance and call police. Photos of the vehicle, fence, tire tracks, damaged boards, and torn grass can help document the scene before towing or repairs begin.
The owner should also save the police report number, ask how the vehicle will be removed, and contact their insurer before replacing fencing or clearing larger debris. If the driver is unknown or the vehicle was allegedly taken without permission, the claim may take more documentation than a routine repair estimate.