NEWBURY PARK : Truck Stolen From Man on Crutches

Two men assaulted a motorist on crutches Wednesday, throwing him to the ground and stealing his truck after it stalled on the Conejo Grade of the Ventura Freeway, deputies said.

James Johnson, 38, of Westlake Hills told deputies that he was finishing repairs to his truck near the top of the grade near Newbury Park and closing the hood when the men pulled up in a light blue Chevrolet van. The assault occurred about 11 a.m., officials said.

The men asked Johnson, who is on crutches because of a broken foot, if he needed help, Sgt. Gregg Whitesell said.

When Johnson told them that he had completed the repairs, they picked him up, tossed him onto the hillside and drove off in his truck, Whitesell said.

The men were last seen traveling north on the freeway in the white Chevrolet pickup, Whitesell said. The van was last seen following Johnson’s truck; it was being driven by a third person whom authorities were unable to identify as either male or female.

One of the men was described as a stocky 5-foot 10-inch Anglo in his early 30s. The other was described as a slender Latino, 5 feet, 11 inches in his mid-20s, Whitesell said.

Whitesell said it would be difficult to find the truck because Johnson was unable to remember his license plate number and the Department of Motor Vehicles was unable to locate his registration.