Couple’s Scheme Frozen Like Deer in the Headlights

A Lancaster County couple was arrested last week for allegedly staging a car accident claiming that their vehicle had been destroyed trying to avoid hitting a deer in the road.

On November 30th, 2007, Michael McLucas, 38, reported that his 1994 Jeep Cherokee had been demolished after he swerved and tumbled down a 30-foot embankment while trying to avoid three deer in the road.

McLucas and his wife, Laura, eventually settled with their insurance company for $15,000; however, according to a release by the Pennsylvania Attorney General, Michael’s accounts of what happened that evening were not consistent with what investigators later found. 

“According to the criminal complaint, McLucas did not swerve to avoid hitting three deer, but rather wrapped a towel around his neck and intentionally drove his Jeep over an embankment, where it rolled and landed in a creek.  McLucas then allegedly stepped on the accelerator until the engine stopped.”

According to court documents, an investigation revealed that there was a $5,000 engine repair needed on the Jeep and the couple was asking around town how to get rid of the vehicle.  Apparently, Michael McLucas even showed a neighbor a soft neck brace and asked if they thought it would protect him if he were in a car accident. While staged accidents are not rare, this one in particular was unusual as the participant ran the vehicle off the side of the road and down a 30 foot embankment while he was still in it. While that alone is reason enough to question the wisdom of such a scheme, the couple apparently was not able keep it quiet and chatted about the idea like a couple of middle school children planning a prank. Authorities were tipped off about the scheme and began their investigation shortly after the insurance company settled the claim.

The couple was arrested last week and Michael McLucas was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, one count of theft by deception, one count of criminal conspiracy and one count of false reports to law enforcement authorities.  McLucas’s wife, Laura, was charged with two counts of insurance fraud, one count of theft by deception and one count of criminal conspiracy.  Both were released on a $10,000 unsecured bond and a preliminary trial was set for November 24^th.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Mark Bellavia of the Attorney General Insurance Fraud Section.  All those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty.