Adams County Man’s Wheelchair Van Stolen

by admin on January 27th, 2010



YORK SPRINGS, ADAMS COUNTY An Adams County man, born with Cerebral Palsy, is now facing another struggle; his wheelchair accessible van was stolen from his driveway. 33 year old Jason Hartle, of Main Street in York Springs, discovered the van stolen on December 7, 2009. State Police are investigating who could have taken what Jason calls, his independence.



Hartle says, the van was a little bit of independence I did have, I didn’t have to ask somebody else to do it for me.



His domestic partner, Cassandra Stultz, says in their initial investigation, they were positive it had to be somebody we knew because there was no evidence, no glass, no evidence at all that a van had ever been there.



Several other wheelchair accessible vans have also been stolen recently in our area. Stultz feels thieves are targeting them because of the value of the hydraulics that lift the wheelchairs.



But it is not about the money for Jason, for nearly two months he’s been confined to his house, because it’s just too difficult to go out.



Hartle says, it was easy for me to get in & out because I could roll in it and do pretty much everything by myself. Now, without the van, I can’t do anything, I’m pretty much stuck in the house.

Stultz, says Jason’s never been able to walk, so he does not know what it is like to be able to walk when he had the van it is almost like he could, now it is taken away again.



Jason says his auto insurance will only pay for a portion of a new van. He is saving up, but still needs about $3,000.00. If you would like to help, contributions are being accepted at any Members First Bank Branch.



In addition, during the week of February 1 through February 7, Rocco’s Pizza in York Springs will donate $1.00 from every pizza & sub sold to Jason’s fund.