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    Wise Co. pursuit ends in head-on crash leaving 1 dead

    By Faith Little,

    2024-06-12

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3rwMne_0tpIzYC400

    WISE, Va. (WJHL) — One person in a civilian vehicle died as a result of a head-on collision that took place during a police pursuit in Wise, Virginia on Wednesday morning, the Virginia State Police (VSP) reports.

    A joint news release from the Wise County Sheriff’s Office and Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office said the pursuit began when deputies on US 23 South in the Town of Pound observed a silver Audi Q3 that was the subject of a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) out of Hazard, Kentucky.

    The release said the car was connected to an alleged theft and subsequent pursuit in Hazard earlier in the day, which Kentucky law enforcement agencies ultimately terminated at the state line.

    Missing Smyth County man last seen fishing on Jerry’s Creek Trail near Chilhowie

    Once Wise County deputies saw the vehicle on US 23 South, “it immediately began to accelerate at a high rate of speed, weaving through traffic,” the release states. Due to the vehicle’s BOLO status and high rate of speed, deputies initiated a pursuit, according to the release.

    Dashcam footage from the pursuit can be seen below:

    “Shortly after the pursuit started, the suspect vehicle crossed the median and began to drive into opposing traffic, traveling south in the northbound lane on US 23,” the release states. The vehicle then narrowly avoided several civilian vehicles while driving in the wrong direction, at times on the gravel shoulder.

    The release said a deputy in pursuit indicated he was going to “attempt to end the pursuit” due to the deadly threat. That deputy then used his patrol vehicle to briefly strike the suspect’s vehicle, which did not successfully crash the suspect, the release said.

    The suspect continued to drive into oncoming traffic on US 23, and the release said police tried to stop the vehicle with spike strips on two separate attempts, which were unsuccessful, as the suspect drove through the median to avoid them.

    Law enforcement diverted the pursuit back into the correct lanes for a brief moment, but the suspect then drove back into oncoming traffic once the pursuit entered Wise and struck a 2024 Chevrolet Trax head-on, the release said.

    The VSP said there were three occupants in the Audi: The driver and one passenger, who were flown to the Johnson City Medical Center (JCMC) with serious injuries; and another passenger that was taken via ambulance to Norton Community Hospital.

    There were two occupants in the Chevrolet, according to the VSP. The driver was being treated at JCMC and the passenger was taken to Norton Community Hospital, where she passed away, the VSP said.

    The VSP’s Wytheville Division Crash Reconstruction Team is assisting in the ongoing investigation. Charges are pending against the Audi’s driver.

    The release said that due to the ongoing investigation, all involved parties’ identities are being withheld for the time being.

    We would like to thank all fire, rescue, and law enforcement agencies for their response to this incident: Wise Police Department, Norton Police Department, UVA-Wise Police Department, Virginia State Police, Wise Rescue Squad, Wise Fire Department, Norton Rescue Squad, Norton Fire Department, LifeCare Ambulance Service, C-Trans Ambulance Service, VSP Medflight, and Highlands Air Rescue.

    Wise County Sheriff’s Office
    Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office
    Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.

    Comments / 10
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    Tee Maxx
    06-13
    The deputies involved showed an incomprehensible lack of common sense. They should be charged and removed and banned from any law enforcement position.It was just a car. Innocents are dead and maimed. I hope their conscience, if they have one, never let's them forget that they are responsible for the death.And the car that was so important....it's gone forever too.
    Ashley Gardner
    06-13
    a life lost because of something stolen from Walmart...wasn't worth a life! should have had cops waiting ahead with spike strips out! chase should have been terminated once they saw how reckless he was driving
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