CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — A Pittsburgh-area man charged in a pursuit that originated in Harrison County last week is now accused of killing his father.
Bridgeport officers tried to stop Christopher Hudak, 28, on I-79 last Thursday, Sept. 19, near the Meadowbrook Mall for driving 95 in a 70 MPH zone.
The pursuit continued south, reaching speeds of over 120 MPH at times, with other law enforcement agencies joining the chase, including deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.
Police said Hudak “brake checked” police, passed traffic on the shoulder and drove in a reckless manner until the pursuit was ended on I-79 in Kanawha County with stop sticks.
“Somewhere midway through there, Bridgeport police called off the pursuit, and the deputies stayed with it,” Harrison County Sheriff Robert Matheny said. “It ended up going all the way to Kanawha County, where the individual was stopped and appropriately charged with the infractions here in Harrison County.”
Hudak has been charged in Harrison County with fleeing with reckless indifference and posted bail and was released after the incident. It’s unclear, however, when he traveled back to Pittsburgh.
“One of the bonding companies down here bonded him out, and a few days later we got a call from the homicide unit of the Pittsburgh police telling us what happened up there with his father,” Matheny said.
Pittsburgh police were called to a home on Lucina Avenue Monday around 3 p.m. and found James Hudak, 64, with stab wounds to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said during their response to the home, Christopher was taken to a hospital for a hand injury before being questioned.
Court documents said Hudak told police he was defending himself.
Police believe Hudak stabbed his father to death during a fight they were having access to food. Just before the stabbing, Christopher was on the phone with his grandmother, telling her he was not being fed, when his father grabbed the handset and told her Christopher had just eaten, and the phone went dead.
Matheny said he’s not sure why Hudak was in West Virginia last week.
“We don’t believe he has any ties to this area,” Matheny said. “We took that information and made everyone here aware of that, but I don’t think he was in this area after the initial chase.”
Hudak is being held in the Allegheny County Jail charged with multiple crimes, including murder.