Police: Wampum Resident Charged with Aggravated Assault after Intentionally Running over Man with a Truck

A Wampum resident assaulted a Perry Township man by running him over with a truck, resulting in the victim’s hospitalization under critical care. According to the criminal complaint,Travis Edward Olinger, 28, is charged with aggravated assault against the victim, Ronald H. Miller.

On June 5 at approximately 4:30, officers were dispatched to the Ellwood City Hospital for an assault call. Officers spoke with a witness, the Miller’s nephew. The nephew said that he and his uncle were traveling east on Portersville Road from Ellwood to Ellport when a blue Chevy truck followed them, flashing its high beams. Miller pulled over into a parking lot in Ellport to see what the driver, identified as Olinger, wanted. When Miller approached the truck, Olinger drove in reverse at a high rate of speed, running Miller over.

Olinger fled the scene, and Miller’s nephew took him to the hospital. Miller suffered a compound fracture to his left leg, a laceration on the right side of his head and two lacerations on his torso. Olinger was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and reckless endangerment, although he has not yet been apprehended.

Update June 9: Miller remains at UPMC Hospital in critical condition and may have to have his leg amputated. Olinger was arraigned before Magistrate Jerry Cartwright on Wednesday.