N.Y. man phones 911 while dragged by truck

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TROY, N.Y., July 30 (UPI) -- A New York state man used his cellphone to call 911 while clinging to the bottom of a pickup truck that dragged him for 3 miles, authorities said Monday.

The pickup driver, Seth Scudds, 45, was charged with felony assault and misdemeanor reckless endangerment Monday for the incident that began Sunday evening, the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union reported.

Capt. John Cooney said Scudds and the victim, Robert Kowalik, also 45, got into an argument in Troy about 5 p.m. Sunday, which resulted in Kowalik somehow becoming stuck under Scudds' pickup truck, The Record, Troy, N.Y., reported.

Kowalik called 911 and explained "to us he was attached to and/or somehow underneath a truck and was actually being dragged or driven through the city streets suffering injuries in the process," Cooney said.

Cooney said it was initially unclear whether Kowalik grabbed onto the truck or was involuntarily attached and dragged.

"Dispatch remained on the line and was able to get a play-by-play as far as where this gentleman's location was and what was happening," Cooney said. "Within minutes the subject described himself as being in the Walmart parking lot in the Town of Brunswick."

Kowalik, who freed himself at a Walmart store, suffered cuts, bruises and other injuries, Cooney said.