Worcester Woman Assaulted While Trying To Help At Crash Scene: PD

WORCESTER, MA — A woman was beaten and nearly carjacked early Saturday morning after she stopped to help a man who had crashed his car along Park Avenue, according to police.

Near 2 a.m. Saturday, the woman pulled over in the Webster Square area after she saw that the man had crashed into a sign. When she got out to see if he was OK, he ran to her car and got in the driver's seat, police said.

Police identified the would-be carjacker was as William Vasbinder, 40, of Putnam, Conn.

"The female quickly tried to pull Mr. Vasbinder from her driver’s seat. A struggle ensued between the two. Mr. Vasbinder repeatedly punched the female with a closed fist. The female was able to take the keys out of the ignition. Mr. Vasbinderin fled the scene on foot when he heard police sirens," Worcester police said in a news release.

After a quick search, officers found Vasbinder about a block from the crash scene along Birch Street. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, police said.

Police charged Vasbinder with assault and batter, driving without a license, leaving the scene of a crash and using a car without authority.