Wounded man drives to get help

Wounded man drives to get help

September 18, 2000

The Intelligencer 

The Associated Press

Cementon, Lehigh County - A Lehigh Valley man, allegedly shot in the chest by his wife, lay bleeding for hours before seeking help by driving his tractor-trailer truck to a neighbor's home, officials said.

Charles Mensinger, 52, was in serious condition Sunday at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, recovering from a gunshot wound. Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin said Mensiner is expected to survive. Ruth, fled with the couple's daughter, Chelsea, 12, after the shooting, Martin said.

She may have left Cementon, about seven miles north of Allentown, to go to Tennessee, Martin said. Warrants were issued Saturday charging Ruth Mensinger with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated and simple assault and a weapons offense.

Officials said Ruth Mensinger shot her husband at about 8 p.m. Friday. He apparently lay on the floor for three hours before gaining enough strength to walk to his truck, which was parked next to the home.

He drove it 20 yards down an alley and then blew its air horn, alerting his neighbor, who got help for him. Benjamin M. "Benny" Kovalcik went outside to investigate and discovered Mensinger holding his hand over a gunshot wound on the right side of of his chest He then called 911.

"He just said his wife shot" Kovalcik said.

"I really didn't want to ask him too many questions".

[This is an excerpt of the original article]