Man fends off would-be carjacker in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A man who tried to steal a truck at a gas station during the height of Wednesday's snow storm led to an unexpected fight back.

At around 8 a.m. Wednesday, a man stopped at the BP Gas Station and Mini Mart at 2221 Main St. in Springfield, when he parked his girlfriend's Ford pickup truck with the keys in the ignition and went into the convenience mart to buy something, according to Springfield police.

While he was waiting to pay, he noticed a man jump into the truck and start to drive away. Running out of the store, the victim got into the back seat of the truck just as it was being put from reverse into drive.

Attempting to stop the man from stealing his car, the victim put the man into a choke hold, which according to police caused the would-be car thief to step on the gas and drive into two gas pumps, destroying them. Nobody was hurt during the incident.

Police arrested and charged Michael Bedinelli, 32, of Springfield, with larceny of a motor vehicle, malicious damage over $250, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.

Cox Media Group