Reward offered in injury of South Union teen
John Williams of South Union Township hopes a witness will step forward or that some extra reward money will entice somebody to help state police identify the person who threw a chunk of cement through the back window of truck and struck his son in the head. His son, Scott C. Williams, 17, missed about a week of classes at Laurel Highland High School while recovering from the gash in the back of his head as a result of the Feb. 11 incident.
According to John Williams, his son got an early dismissal from school that day to meet his dad at Garry’s Auto Sales on Connellsville Road to look at a truck that was for sale.
He parked across the street around 1:45 p.m. to wait for his father. While he was waiting in his dad’s pick up truck, an “L” shaped piece of concrete crashed through the rear window.
John Williams said the neck rest fortunately absorbed most of the impact, but part of the concrete struck the back of Scott’s head and left him there unconscious.
He said he noticed the broken rear window and heard the truck’s radio playing when he approached the truck, but had no idea what he would discover when he opened the door.
“I opened the door, and he just fell right into my hands,” Williams said. “I thought he was shot. I didn’t know what happened. He was covered with blood.”
He said the concrete was probably thrown from a passing vehicle.
Williams said the impact forced his son’s head and chest into the steering wheel. He added that the chunk of cement bent the headrest down to almost a 90-degree angle to back of the seat, dented the roof, tore the roof liner and broke the rear window frame.
Scott Williams was transported to Uniontown Hospital and then transferred to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh, where internal stitching and external staples were used to close the wound.
State police said they don’t have any suspects or witnesses in the case.
Fayette County Crime Stoppers has offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who threw the cement, and Williams said he will match any reward given by Crime Stoppers.
He said police told him that the incident was most likely a random act because nobody knew where his son was going to be that day.
Williams said the rear window on the truck Scott was in that day was tinted, so whoever threw the cement might not have known anyone was inside or that anyone got hurt.
“He really got a good whack,” Williams said.
He said he hopes the person who did it or anyone else who might have been with that person starts feeling guilty and steps forward. Williams also hopes any witnesses tell police what they saw.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the yet-unknown suspect.
Williams said he will match the reward given by Crime Stoppers.
Crime Stoppers can be called anonymously at 724-437-TIPS or 877-834-TIPS. State police can be reached at 724-439-7111.