Endwell Woman Accused of Taking Test Drive Truck Shopping

An Endwell woman may have been inspired by some recent television car commercials showing customers star-gazing from the hood of a car or going on an extended road trip on what was supposed to be a brief test drive, with the hapless salesman in tow asking when they could go back to the dealership.

Broome County Sheriff's officials say 44 year old Laura Sturgeon is charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle after she and a friend took a pickup truck for a test drive and didn't return to the dealership.

The woman reportedly took a 2009 Toyota Tacoma from the Gault dealership on North Street, Endwell for a test drive at around 4:30 p.m. December 28th.

When the pair failed to come back two hours later, the sales associate contacted the sheriff's office to report the vehicle stolen.

Authorities located the truck at a gas statioin in the Town of Union four hours after Sturgeon started out on the 'test drive.'

The woman had driven to several stores and did some grocery shopping but said she intended to return the truck.

Sturgeon has been ordered to appear in Town of Union Court at a later date. Her friend was not charged.