High-speed pursuit leads to 3-car pile-up, arrest of driver

A high-speed, cross-island pursuit on Wednesday afternoon saw a 50-year-old man from George Town arrested for a series of traffic violations.

The chase, which piqued the curiosity of several commentators on social media, caused a three-car pile-up and led to a chase on foot before officers eventually arrested the man on suspicion of: taking away a conveyance without the owner’s consent; reckless and negligent act; dangerous driving; and a host of other driving offences.

According to a police press release, events unfolded just after 1pm on Wednesday, when officers responded to a report to 911 regarding the theft of a black Jeep Cherokee from a car park on Mary Street.

Just after 3pm, a police officer in the Beach Bay area of Bodden Town saw the car being driven in what police described as “at high speed and in a reckless and dangerous manner”.

The officer stayed put while other units were mobilised based on the direction of travel of the jeep.

Police said because of the “dangerous manner in which the vehicle was being driven”, traffic control points were set up “in the interest of public safety”.

Responding officers from the George Town area, along with the Air Operations Unit, coordinated “strategic traffic control points” police said. These were stationed at various locations along Shamrock Road, Crewe Road, the Fairbanks area and the Linford Pearson Highway, in an effort to stop the car and prevent a high-speed collision, while the progress of the jeep was tracked by the AOU.

“The driver of the suspect vehicle continuously evaded and failed to stop at the pre-set control points and continued to drive in a reckless and dangerous manner, eventually colliding with three other vehicles on the roadway before coming to a stop on the Linford Pierson Highway, in the vicinity of the Agnes Way roundabout,” police said.

The driver, who was the only person in the jeep, at this point fled the vehicle on foot. After a short pursuit, he was apprehended.

The suspect remains in police custody pending further investigations.