Butler man arrested in hit-and-run probe
A Butler man was arrested Friday and arraigned on charges in connection with a hit-and-run incident that left a Butler woman seriously injured.
Luke J. Sibble, 36, is charged with felony aggravated assault, felony accident causing death or personal injury while not properly licensed and recklessly endangering another person.
Police say Sibble was behind the wheel of a box truck that struck Bobbi Jo Pengryn, 46, at 10:43 p.m. Jan. 26 on Fifth Avenue near the intersection with West New Castle Street, according to the criminal complaint.
Shortly after the accident, a passer-by discovered Pengryn lying on the road and called 911 to report a woman with a broken leg. Though the 911 caller did not see any vehicles or people in the area, police found drag marks and pieces of black plastic on the road about 15 feet from where the accident occurred.
Pengryn was first taken to Butler Memorial Hospital and later transferred to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. Her injuries included broken ribs, a broken back, stitches in her head and severe damage to her knee.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from a camera on the outside of the Cunningham Shanor building on West New Castle Street, which showed a white box truck traveling south on Fifth Avenue. While on camera, the truck allegedly stopped, backed up to allow a pedestrian to roll out from under the front of the truck, drove around the pedestrian and continued south.
Though no distinctive markings or logo were visible, neighbors told officers that a truck matching that description was often parked in a lot behind a building on West New Castle Street. Police eventually found the vehicle, with damage to its plastic grill matching the pieces found at the scene, parked near Sibble’s address on East Jefferson Street.
In an interview at the police station, Sibble allegedly admitted that he struck a woman while driving to work. He said that he pulled over to check on her and she said she was OK, so he left the scene. When asked why he didn’t call 911, he allegedly stated that he took off because he was scared.
He is being held in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bail.
