A Washington County deputy working radar on Interstate 81 on March 22 received notice that Virginia State Police were in pursuit of a vehicle heading south out of Smyth County.
The pursuit was tied to a vehicle reported stolen in Morristown, Tennessee.
The deputy fell into pursuit of a white Ford F250 being tailed by multiple law enforcement units. The officers followed for several miles, reaching speeds of 80 mph, before the Ford abruptly stopped and cut through the median to travel back north on the interstate, again reaching speeds of 80 mph.
At the Smyth County line, deputies from the Smyth County Sheriff’s Office took the lead in the chase.
At the 35 mile marker, the driver again drove through the median and headed south again, this time getting off the interstate in Chilhowie, turning left toward Whitetop. The truck again drove back into Washington County, eventually driving U.S. Highway 58 toward Straight Branch, traveling at speeds around 35 mph.
Washington County deputies laid down spike strips on U.S. 58 headed toward Damascus, just past Bear Tree Campground. Once stopped, a 51-year-old male, Alan Myers of Whitesburg, Tennessee, and a female passenger were taken into custody. Myers is being held at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail facility in Abingdon on reckless driving, driving without a license and disregarding police command to stop charges.
