JOHNSTON COUNTY – Two people were injured after a driver, attempting to elude law enforcement officers, crashed into another vehicle. The collision ended a three county chase that started in Johnston County, traveled through Harnett County, and ended in Cumberland County.
Around 3:27am Sunday, a state trooper was stationary in the median of Interstate 40 near the 322 mile marker in Johnston County. A black 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk was clocked on radar traveling 120 miles per hour in a 70 mile per hour zone as he passed the trooper.
The trooper attempted to stop the high performance SUV but the driver refused to stop. The chase continued from I-40 onto I-95 southbound, where the suspect reached a top speed of 170 miles per hour.
Near the 59 mile marker, the suspect struck the rear of a white BMW ending the chase. The driver and passenger in the BMW sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. They were transported to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville for treatment.
The suspect, Edwin Lawrence Roberts, age 48, of Fayetteville was charged with multiple offenses including felony fleeing to elude arrest, felony serious injury by a vehicle, driving while impaired, speeding 170 mph in a 60 mph highway work zone, speeding 120 mph in a 70 mph zone, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane control, improper passing, and failure to heed for a light or siren.
Roberts was released from custody at the Johnston County Detention Center after posting a $47,000 bond. The Jeep was seized under the NC Run and Done law.
Southbound lanes of I-95 in Cumberland County were closed for approximately one hour until the scene could be cleared.
And why should any vehicle be able to go that fast?
Total disregard for human life. He should have a lifetime loss of driving privileges in addition to any other offenses and charges. Oh…but wait…even if lifetime loss of legal driving privileges were reality…fools like this would continue to drive unlicensed and I insured. Book’em Danno….oh, yet again they did book’,em but you see he’s out again…to do it all over again and again and again. Pathetic excuse for a human being.
It’s not the people it’s the law and their system
Roberts, that should be you in the hospital and not the other two innocent drivers. Prayers for those other people. Better yet you should be in the Morge you low life piece of scum! I also wonder who was the judge that gave Roberts only a $47,000 bond. He should get jail time to. This low life will be back behind a wheel again. Good job to the Trooper and I am so glad you were not injured. Again, prayers for the two people in the hospital.
i am willing to bet Steve wouldnt say it to his face but feels like such a macho man typing away LOL
Not only would I say it to his face, I would love to have been the one to put the cuffs on this low life who has total disregard for the law and human lives!
Shouldn’t they have called the chase off once it hit a certain speed or when it was a danger to other people.
That person should have never been let out of jail. Should be given life. I can just imagine if was one of my grandchildren in a car driven by an idiot.
My question is… why run? Doesn’t appear he had any drugs , warrants or paraphernalia?
Well, well, well. Never seen a time where so many drivers are driving over a 100 mph on our interstates and then run when the HP pursue them. No regard for human life.
What suv goes 170 mph?
it’s a HIGH performance vehicle. Like a corvette..those Jeep Trail hawks FLY!!!
Wow! Three counties!?Why was he running?
Another idiot behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Some of these comments are hilarious 😂 This is what happens when you don’t know what you’re doing at the polls! Lawmakers should be elected to make the necessary changes in the law. Press your candidates. Make them tell you what they will do, and hold them to it. We voted them in, we can vote them out!
Wow! Three counties before he wrecked…post his own bond…$47,000..why was he running… because he was under the influence?? Impaired… with what??? Where in the hell did he think he was going???
The speed limits seriously need to be raised.
You are no better than he is! You too have no concern for life and more than likely are a member of the 100MPH CLUB!
170mph. And he still got caught… obviously someone didn’t take the defense driving class.