Car hits tree, rolls over after police chase

Juvenile in stable condition at Meritus Medical Center

December 15, 2010|By DAVE McMillion | davem@herald-mail.com

A stolen car from Baltimore being pursued Wednesday by a Washington County sheriff’s deputy hit a tree and rolled over near the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Indian Lane outside Hagerstown, authorities said.

The driver of the car, an unidentified juvenile, was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where he was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.

Deputy Aaron Horton was dispatched at 9:27 a.m. to Maranatha Brethren Church on Scott Hill Drive west of Hagerstown for a report of property found in the church's parking lot, the release said.

Horton said in the news release that he met with a pastor, who reported that someone had dumped three bags of trash in the church's parking lot between 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Horton and the pastor went through the bags of trash and found an envelope with a man's name and his address. Horton said he found a telephone number for the man, called him and learned that his car had been stolen from the front of his Baltimore home Tuesday night.

Police were advised to be on the lookout for a silver 2001 Honda Accord with Maryland registration. Horton said he left the church heading west on Jefferson Boulevard and noticed the Honda Accord pulling out of Indian Lane.

The vehicle then pulled onto Cheryl Drive from Jefferson Boulevard. Horton said he turned onto Cheryl Drive and saw the Honda coasting slowly along the road. He pulled behind the vehicle and turned on his emergency lights and siren.

The driver spun the wheels of the car, continued down Cheryl Drive and pulled from Scott Hill Drive onto Jefferson Boulevard without stopping, Horton said.

The Honda was traveling at a high rate of speed as he pursued it, Horton said. He caught up with the car around Margaret Drive. T

he vehicle crossed the eastbound lane around Indian Lane, hit a tree head-on and rolled over. The suspect crawled from the car with a large gash to his forehead, the release said.

Ambulance crews arrived and transported the juvenile to Meritus Medical Center. The Honda was destroyed in the crash, and two trees fell over because of the collision, the release said. The investigation is continuing.

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