ELKINS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – At least four law enforcement organizations were involved in the high-speed pursuit and detainment of a juvenile teen on Thursday who had been recklessly operating a stolen vehicle.
According to Deputy Pingley of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, a silver Mitsubishi was reported to have been driving at high rates of speed along Parsons Road and was headed in the direction of Randolph County. A pursuit ensued which involved members of the West Virginia State Police, Elkins Police Department, Tucker County Sheriff’s Office, and the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.
Entering Randolph County, the vehicle reportedly was driving at speeds around 90mph through the Montrose area. The vehicle was noted to have been passing other vehicles in non-passing lanes creating risk of injury or death for other motorists on the road. Deputy Pingley reports observing the vehicle passing drivers who were waiting at a stop sign.
A spike strip was utilized at Corridor-H from the Kerns intersection, but the vehicle navigated around the spike strip and continued to drive along Corridor-H. Law enforcement continued pursuit of the vehicle at speeds of up to 125mph. The driver eventually came to a stop near the Elkins exit on Corridor-H and was taken into custody by law enforcement.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the driver of the vehicle was a 14-year-old Virginia native who was actively wanted by authorities, and the vehicle being driven was determined to have been stolen out of Virginia.
The juvenile, identifying information for which has not been made available, was transported to a juvenile detention facility, and a juvenile petition for possession of a stolen vehicle and fleeing with reckless indifference is expected to be brought forward at a later date.