Vickie Jean DeHamer, Staff writer
PUBLICATION: News & Observer, The (Raleigh, NC)
SECTION: CARY
DATE: December 2, 2009
EDITION: CARY
Page: A1
CARY An early-morning hot dog sounded really good to David Lance Kelbaugh.
So good that when he was denied one because he didn’t have enough money, police said, he rammed his Ford Explorer into the vendor’s van. Twice.
According to police, Kelbaugh, 23, left Pure Gold, a strip club in Cary, about 2 a.m. on Nov. 25, when he stopped at a food concession van parked nearby. He offered owner Fady Sabet Awad $1 for a drink and a hot dog.
When Awad said it wasn’t enough, Kelbaugh yelled at him, got into his SUV and drove at about 15 miles per hour into the back of Awad’s van, which was parked near the club on North Harrison Avenue, police said.
Then he backed into Pure Gold’s brick pillar, and accelerated into Awad’s van a second time, police said.
The Rolesville resident raced off and was pulled over for speeding at the intersection of Maynard and Old Apex roads minutes later. His front headlight was hanging by a wire, police said.
Kelbaugh failed field sobriety tests, according to Capt. Mike Williams. His blood-alcohol level was 0.16, police said. That’s twice North Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run, injury to personal property, injury to real property and driving while under the influence.
He was released after being held three hours at the Wake County jail on a $6,000 bond.
“I’ve never had an accident in my whole life like this,” said Awad, who’s been operating the mobile food unit, called Saint George, since 2004. “The charcoal grill, fryer, two sinks, freezer, refrigerator, DVD, MP3, everything – all this is damaged.”
Awad said he takes his van, a 1984 white Chevrolet, to North Harrison Avenue, near the strip club five nights a week.
He said business is good at the location, especially when the club lets out at 2 a.m. He said nobody’s ever expected to get a drink and a hot dog for $1 before.
Saint George’s cheapest hot dog and drink combination costs $4, depending on link and soda options.
“I have small, jumbo, spicy,” Awad said. “He just want the whole thing for $1. What, are we working in 1955?” Kelbaugh declined to comment. “I’d really rather wait and speak with my lawyer,” he said.
Awad’s van sustained about $1,500 in damages. He was treated at a nearby hospital and says he now suffers from back pain. He said he can’t use his van and is out of work.
“I just come from the professional back doctor,” he said.
Kelbaugh’s court date has been set for Jan. 19.
On Monday, upon hearing of the incident, the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council decided to take action.
“Hot dogs make people do crazy things,” said Janet Riley, president of the 15-year-old organization dedicated to educating consumers about hot dogs and sausages.
She ordered a bouquet of mustard and ketchup-colored flowers for Awad with a card that reads: “Stick to your buns.”
Staff writer Jordan Cooke contributed to this report.