Drug addict sentenced in fatal carjacking

PONTIAC (AP) - A woman has been sentenced to life in prison for carjacking a pickup truck at a Detroit-area Burger King and killing the 76-year-old owner as he tried to stop her.

The Oakland Press in Pontiac reports that 39-year-old Ruth Pozdol apologized Wednesday to Clifford Van Haywald's family in Oakland County Circuit Court. Pozdol of Walled Lake was convicted last month.

Police have said she snatched keys from Van Haywald on Jan. 18 and drove over him when he fell under the tires outside the fast food restaurant in Waterford Township, northwest of Detroit.

Pozdol had just walked away from a drug treatment center. She drove the pickup to Detroit, sold it for $200 and bought heroin.

Published: Fri, Oct 23, 2015