Police: Car thief who crashed was eating, texting

[March 29, 2012]  KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) -- Texting and eating while driving? Not the best plan. Do those things while driving a stolen truck and the trouble mounts.

Kennewick, Wash., police say a Chevy pickup truck previously stolen in nearby Richland ran into a ditch and drove through some logs and lawns before hitting a home Wednesday.

Neighbors and the homeowner saw a man run from the scene. A Benton County sheriff's deputy in the area made an arrest a short time later.

Spokesman Mike Blatman tells the Tri-City Herald (http://is.gd/wUepmy) the arrested man said he was eating a croissant and reading a text message when he lost control of the truck.

The spokesman says 32-year-old Jeromy Kirkendall of Kennewick was booked into the Benton County jail for investigation of possessing stolen property.

It wasn't immediately known if Kirkendall has an attorney or how much damage was done to the home.

[Associated Press]

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