Man arrested after crashing car into tree during theft attempt in Lincoln, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man was arrested Friday afternoon after he tried stealing a woman’s vehicle in Lincoln, police say.

Around 9:30 p.m., a woman saw 35-year-old Christopher Svoboda stumbling down the sidewalk near 15th and Garfield streets and stopped to see if he needed help.

She gave Svoboda a ride to 18th and D streets, where he got out and fell to the ground, police said.

The woman then got out of the car to check on him.  Svoboda quickly got back inside and started driving off.

Police said the woman clung to the car and eventually got back inside.

Svoboda then crashed the vehicle into a tree near 19th and E streets and left the area, police said.

Later that day, officers found Svoboda near 18th and D streets and arrested him on suspicion of robbery, leaving the scene of an injury accident and willful reckless driving.

The woman was taken to a local hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.