Published: January 18, 2008 11:25 pm      

Driver leads police on countywide pursuit

Vehicle had no tires, no wheels on driver’s side at pursuit’s end

Police say an SUV driver bolted from a traffic stop Friday night, eventually leading law enforcement on a countywide pursuit that ended with him crashing alongside an embankment with only two wheels left on his vehicle.

The male driver was in State Police custody late Friday night. His identity could not be officially confirmed.

Beckley Police Cpl. Will Reynolds said he attempted to stop the driver’s red Jeep Cherokee on Barber Avenue around 8:30 p.m. because the vehicle had no tail lights. The driver continually swerved on Barber Avenue before pulling over. When Reynolds opened his door, the driver revved his engine and eventually fled.

The driver proceeded on South Fayette Street and then into Beaver, Reynolds said. After Beckley police cruisers followed the Cherokee onto Tank Branch Road and Tilden Road, Raleigh County sheriff’s deputies and state troopers picked up the pursuit.

State Police at the scene said the driver led law enforcement officers through Sullivan, Pemberton, Sophia, the West Virginia Turnpike’s southbound lanes, two different directions on Interstate 64, the turnpike’s northbound lanes, through the Harper Road exit, Dry Hill Road, North and South Sand Branch roads, again through Dry Hill, Harper Heights side streets, then onto Harper Road and back into the city.

The vehicle was found alongside an embankment on Harper Road near North Pike Street around 10 p.m.. Both driver’s side tires and rims were gone. Police at the scene said the driver was the only person inside the vehicle.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com