A Cranberry Township woman is in jail after she’s accused of dragging her boyfriend with her vehicle.
Ryan Minett, 27, of Beaver County was critically injured and died the next day at a Pittsburgh hospital.
The dragging incident happened late Friday afternoon. According to court documents, Sgt. Matthew Irvin of the Cranberry Township Police Department was initially called to the intersection of Cross Creek Drive and Little Pine Road in Cranberry Township. There he found Minett “unconscious and suffering from massive trauma to his head and torso.”
According to Irvin, at least nine eyewitnesses told police they saw Minett hanging from the rear, driver’s-side luggage rack of a 2005 Buick Rendezvous. Driving that vehicle was 28-year-old Jessica Royall, according to police.
Police believe Royall drove that SUV a half-mile with Minett hanging on. He eventually “fell from the vehicle and struck a light pole,” according to police.
Royall did speak with police after the alleged incident. She alleges she and Minett were in a relationship and were arguing when she got into her vehicle “to prevent an argument” and to pick up her children. She claims Minett confronted her in the driveway and held onto the vehicle as she drove away.
According to police, Royall had a “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her and her eyes were glossy and bloodshot.” Royall was administered stand field sobriety tests and she failed each of them, according to police.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled Minett’s death a homicide.
