SMITHFIELD – Three people were injured after a brief chase ended with a collision in Smithfield.
Around 8:30pm Monday, a Johnston County deputy sheriff attempted a traffic stop on US 70 near US 301 (Brightleaf Boulevard). The vehicle, a silver passenger car, refused to stop and turned onto US 301 northbound, as the deputy initiated a pursuit.
At the intersection of US 301 and Durwood Stephenson Highway, the deputy sheriff struck the rear of a Ram pickup causing major damage to both vehicles. The fleeing silver passenger car never stopped and eluded apprehension.
Deputy C.B. Warren was transported to Johnston Health in Smithfield for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the Ram pickup, Jonathan Flemer of Micro and an 11 year-old passenger, were also transported to Johnston Health, by Johnston County EMS, for treatment of minor injuries.
Smithfield Police investigated the two vehicle accident. According to the collision report, Deputy Warren was traveling northbound in a 2023 Dodge patrol car with the lights and siren activated. The Ram pickup was in the right lane attempting to move out of the way for the patrol car when it was struck from behind.
According to the accident report, Deputy Warren was traveling at an estimated 65 miles per hour when he collided with the rear of the slower-moving pickup. The pickup was traveling at an estimated 2 miles per hour. The posted speed limit is 35 mile per hour along that stretch of US 301 (Brightleaf Boulevard), the report stated.
The patrol car traveled 43 feet after impact and the pickup 91 feet after it was struck. There were no tire impressions prior to the collision, the report noted.
Damage to the patrol car was estimated at $15,000. Damage to the pickup was placed at $7,000.
Police did not file any traffic charges.
I remember a lawsuit on Hwy 301 near N. Johnston High School a few years ago for a similar incident that took the life of a woman. Do we ever get smarter?
Over the years, JoCo has seen what what appears to be a disproportionately high number of officer involved accidents, WHY ? are we not training our officers properly? is it the mostly rural setting of JoCo? According to the article the officer ran into the back of the pickup at 65 mph with no skid marks and no charges were filed, Why Not? If I ran into the back of someone I’d be charged. I understand officers have a very difficult job, but their safety and the safety of others should come first.
And let me guess… the deputy wasn’t at fault or charged!
The police office department should be responsible for paying all medical bills, as well as for the damages to there truck. Because they gonna make sure the police car gets fixed but what about the other people that could’ve lost there life’s with a minor inside of there. When all he was trying to do was get outta the way smh the system is messed up nowadays.
Different rules for different ppl! Doesn’t make sense!
And still not saying the reason for the chase to begin with … SMH ….. TRANSPARENCY JOCO !!! The radio chatter is a matter of public record … I guess WE THE PEOPLE will have to petition for those recordings , to get to the real of it all ,huh?!?
Unreal. Clearly that ***** needs more training. Thank GOD everyone is OK. Putting their lights on at a red light then cutting them off because they dont want to wait like the rest of us have to. Tailgating you because they are running your plate. Passing you doing the speed limit as THEY are clearly speeding.
I AGREE…..THIS RIGHT HERE
Tissue anyone 🤧 😢
I just pray all will be ok.
It is amazing how everyone knows the facts of the incident. Who says the officer wasn’t disciplined or ticketed or even fired? How do you know what his punishment was and even if he was at fault? How do you know what the guy did that he was chasing? Maybe the citizen in the truck pulled over then pulled in front of him, failed to heed? Who’s to say? Not me, I’m just reading a vague story that paints a picture of it being the deputies fault but I wasnt there, Apparently yall are either way more informed on the FACTS or were there and witnessed it.
Thank you!! Yes!
It was the deputies fault!!!!! He’s the one that rear-ended the truck, he failed to keep his vehicle under control. Apparently you didn’t read the article I’ll provide it in quotes for you. “Police did not file any traffic charges.”
This is out of hand. These police (I see it a lot lately) speeding through backroads not even letting folks move over for them. They need more or better training. They rush when they don’t want to wait for a traffic light, yes it happens a lot, I see it! Then if we pull through yellow to red we get a ticket. That is wrong. Speeding on highway and backroads with lights on and no sirens. Really? Sorry but I see so much disregard for public safety with our own police officer’s it’s hard to have respect for those who disregard the law themselves.
To “ Jesus’s saves” point …. No we DONT know all the facts … and THAT is exactly the POINT ! Law enforcement have gotten away with NOT disclosing ALL the facts for far too long! And that is a stain that they have put on THEMSELVES ! Transparency and upholding the United States of America constitution! While I completely agree,they have a tough job, BUT they DO swear an oath to the Constitution/ to the PEOPLE! And they are NOT informing the PEOPLE properly! Especially this day and time in America, where people CLAIM to want their RIGHTS respected, but seems they ONLY want to pick and choose the rights they deem valuable to them in the moment! Everything ….EVERYTHING that a government agency does , including all communications,videos, emergency calls…. Everything belongs to WE THE PEOPLE, we as United States of America tax payers, own those records PERIOD ! It’s called FOIA , so …. Therefore ,to hold the appropriate person accountable, we have the rights to all information and clearly , they/ law enforcement are NOT giving we the public,said information, only very vague and deceptive and Information.