Some Durham residents were startled Monday after the driver of a stolen vehicle led law enforcement on a multi-county chase that ended with a crash.
According to the North Carolina Highway State Patrol, troopers began pursuing a reported stolen, black Chrysler Pacifica just before 2:30 p.m. for a seat-belt violation in Durham County.
The vehicle sped away when a trooper attempted a traffic stop and the chase continued into Wake County.
The pursuit continued back into Durham County, where deputies joined in. State troopers backed off as the chase neared downtown Durham.
Eyewitnesses said the driver was speeding when the stolen van crashed into a pickup and veered off the road, striking two utility poles at Angier Avenue and Bingham Street.
“He was like speeding past the house. Like the blink of an eye. Like he was going so fast,” said nearby Durham resident Kayala Dill. “He’s blessed to still be alive. He’s blessed. He’s very blessed.”
NCSHP said the driver was arrested and booked into the Durham County Jail. The driver of the pickup was taken to a hospital for treatment of what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.