Two Fayetteville men were charged in a Jan. 1 incident that began as vehicle accident and quickly turned into an attempt to steal the vehicle of a passerby who had stopped to assist.

Devante M. Brown, 28, of Fayetteville, was charged with aggravated assault, theft by taking, hit and run (two counts), pedestrian on roadway, DUI, safety belt violation and obedience to a traffic control device, according to Fayetteville police.

Christopher J. Dowtin, 19, of Fayetteville, was charged with theft by taking a motor vehicle, police said.

Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson Ann Marie Burdett said officers on Jan. 1 at approximately 7:49 a.m. responded to a multi-vehicle traffic accident with injuries at North Jeff Davis Drive near East Lanier Avenue.

Police reported two black males, identified as Devante Malik Brown (driver) and Christopher James Dowtin (passenger), traveled in a passenger vehicle when their vehicle struck another passenger vehicle. The occupants exited the vehicles to observe the damage, and a passerby stopped and exited their car at the Circle K gas station to assist.

“The complainant/victim that stopped at the Circle K gas station reported to the police that the subjects that struck the car in the first accident jumped into their vehicle and attempted to take it,” Burdett said. “However, the complainant/victim reached through the driver’s window and pressed the start button to deactivate the car. The car was deactivated, and the subjects attempted to flee the vehicle.”

Burdett said the complainant/victim became injured in deactivating the vehicle while it was in motion, and they were transported to an area hospital to be evaluated for medical treatment.

“(Brown) was struck by a large-size pickup truck while attempting to flee the scene. Both subjects were apprehended at the scene,” said Burdett. “Dowtin was evaluated by Emergency Medical Services at the scene for his injuries and refused further treatment. Dowtin was arrested and charged with theft by taking a motor vehicle.”

Brown was transported to an area hospital to be evaluated for medical treatment. Brown remains in the hospital and is receiving care for non-life-threatening injuries, Burdett said.