Victim in fiery Huber Heights crash dies; driver could face more charges

Car that was stolen in Clark County, pursued in Montgomery County, linked to multiple incidents.
Police and medics responded to a fiery, multi-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 24, 2023, on Brandt Pike north of Chambersburg Road in Huber Heights involving a white BMW reported stolen out of Clark County. MARSHALL GORBY/STAFF

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Credit: Marshall Gorby

Police and medics responded to a fiery, multi-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 24, 2023, on Brandt Pike north of Chambersburg Road in Huber Heights involving a white BMW reported stolen out of Clark County. MARSHALL GORBY/STAFF

A 68-year-old man critically injured in a fiery crash involving a stolen vehicle in Huber Heights last week has died from his injuries.

Steven Carlson of Tipp City was driving a Ford F-150 in the Jan. 24 multiple-vehicle crash on Brandt Pike and had been hospitalized since then, according to an updated press release from the Huber Heights Police Division.

Last week, authorities alleged 27-year-old Cory Allen Harbarger of Dayton stole a white BMW from Clark County, fled from law enforcement and crashed into three vehicles in Huber Heights, with vehicles erupting into flames.

Six people were involved in the crash.

Harbarger was charged on Jan. 26 by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office with four counts of aggravated vehicular assault, four counts of vehicular assault, failure to comply, receiving stolen property (motor vehicle) and tampering with evidence.

Additional charges may be presented to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office against Harbarger this week, according to police.

Cory Harbarger

Credit: Montgomery County Jail

icon to expand image

Credit: Montgomery County Jail

Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies said Harbarger stole the BMW from Clark County and he was chased along northbound Interstate 75. He was “driving erratically and at a high rate of speed,” according to an affidavit filed in Montgomery County Municipal Court - Eastern Division in Huber Heights. He stuck a bystander as well.

Authorities were involved in a chase and a police officer crashed into another vehicle in an incident separate from the multi-vehicle crash.

Harbarger continued to drive erratically and struck a Jeep Cherokee after going left of center, struck the Ford F-150, which then struck a Honda Civic, according to the affidavit.

He fled on foot from the car and was arrested by officers in the parking lot of nearby business.

The affidavit said Harbinger reportedly admitted to heroin use and showed signs of impairments.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

No other update is available about any other people involved in the incidents at this time.

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