FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A wild multi-county police pursuit ended Thursday morning with a dramatic PIT maneuver on Interstate 77 and the arrest of a New River Valley man accused of striking two law enforcement vehicles during the chase.
On July 10, 2025, at approximately 7:48 a.m., West Virginia State Police were alerted by Turnpike Control of a pursuit heading into Raleigh County. Deputies were in pursuit of a bluish-green Nissan with improper Virginia registration, originally assigned to a Ford.
Raleigh County deputies first attempted to stop the vehicle on Route 16 by boxing it in. However, the driver—identified as Matthew Welch—rammed the rear of a sheriff’s cruiser, disabling the maneuver and continuing north on I-77.
As the pursuit escalated into Fayette County, Trooper N.J. Adams attempted to deploy spike strips but was unsuccessful. He then joined the pursuit, which reached speeds over 90 mph and weaved dangerously through traffic.
The chase stretched into Kanawha County and then looped back south toward Fayette County. Along the way, Welch allegedly struck a second law enforcement vehicle—this time a WVSP cruiser operated by Sgt. R.R. Cervera—disabling it on the shoulder of I-77.
Due to the escalating threat to officers and the public, Trooper Adams was authorized to execute a PIT maneuver near mile marker 53.5. After Welch struck the side of Adams’ cruiser, the maneuver was successfully carried out, disabling Welch’s vehicle and ending the chase.
Welch was taken into custody without further incident and is facing multiple charges including Fleeing with Reckless Indifference and Two Counts of Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer. The case remains under investigation.
