Drug Suspect Fleeing From Cops Crashes Into Mother And Child

Large cache of narcotics seized

From The Dunn Daily Record

DUNN – A traffic stop for an unsafe movement escalated into a vehicle chase, a crash with injuries, significant property damage and seizure of a large amount of cocaine around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

“On February 5th, 2023, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a Range Rover at the intersection of Wilson Avenue and Broad Street in Dunn,” said Sheriff Wayne Coats. “The vehicle was being driven by Simoneka Lashay Neal a black female from Homestead, Florida.”

“While deputies were speaking to the driver she drove off and deputies pursued the vehicle. During the pursuit, the driver ran a red light at the intersection of Clinton Avenue and Cumberland Street crashing into a car with a mother and child occupying that vehicle. The car was then pushed into a pickup truck.”

“After the initial crash, the suspect’s vehicle struck a power pole before crashing near a church.”

“The woman and child were transported to the hospital and were discharged a short time later on February 5th.”

Sheriff Coats stated Neal was also treated and released from the hospital.

“After searching the suspect’s car deputies found 3 kilograms of cocaine with a tax value of $600,000,” Coats reported.

Neal is charged with three counts of trafficking cocaine and one count each of maintaining a vehicle for a controlled substance and speeding to elude arrest with a motor vehicle. She was also written a ticket for unsafe movement. She is being held in the Harnett County Detention Center under a $1,500,000 secured bond.

Trooper J. Foushee of Troop B District 8 with the N.C. State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash. The investigation came at the request of the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office.

Firefighters and rescue technicians with Dunn Emergency Services used the Jaws of Life to remove the door from the vehicle containing the mother and child to get the mother free.

Both mother and child were treated by paramedics and transported to Betsy Johnson Hospital.