NC veteran was having PTSD flashback when he drove a trash truck into pillar at Pittsburgh airport

Harry Griffith drove an airport maintenance truck through the glass doors of a moving walkway and hit a cement pillar in a nearby parking lot on Friday, according to Allegheny County authorities.

Griffith, 35, from Southern Pines, jumped out of the truck and tried to run away. He was followed by an airport employee. He had cuts on his arms and legs.

Although Griffith has a Southern Pines address, his wife said he hasn't been home in nearly a year. He's been in California – in rehab.

According to her, he's been bedeviled by PTSD and alcohol. He served 14 years in the army, including multiple deployments to Afghanistan. An IED exploded near him, causing a brain injury.

Last June, Griffith -- who goes by Hank -- was admitted into a rehab center in California. His wife Jessica Perna and their 18-month-old daughter have been in NC.

Last week, he flew to Pittsburgh to visit his parents. He was on his way to Raleigh when this happened at the Pittsburgh airport, she said.

From his wide-eyes in the mug shot, Jessica Perna could tell her husband was terrified.

Police say he had a blood alcohol level of more than .23, and that he used a racial slur against someone in the parking lot.

According to his wife, he was having a flashback of combat. She says he's long tried to douse his post traumatic stress with alcohol.

WRAL News did a background check and found that Griffith had two arrests for DWI in the past two years, along with a charge of communicating threats.

His wife praised his military service, saying, "He's seen and done a lot. That gets to a person."

Griffith was charged with theft by unlawful taking, ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, unauthorized use of automobile and harassment.

Griffith is not back home, nor is he in jail. He's returned to California, to rehab, in hopes of getting the help he needs.