Wrong-Way Driver Arrested After High Speed Chase And Crash

WILSON’S MILLS – A Smithfield man is facing numerous charges after fleeing from law enforcement officers, Friday night.

Wilson’s Mills Police Chief A.Z. Williams said a patrol officer saw a gray pickup following too close behind a car, then observed the pickup travel through a stop sign.

The officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver refused to pull over. The motorist accelerated and illegally passed two other vehicles before turning eastbound on US 70, Chief Williams said. With two Wilson’s Mills police vehicles in pursuit, the pickup reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour while fleeing eastbound on US 70.

The suspect drove onto the shoulder through a construction zone, began weaving through traffic, and at times turned the headlights off in an attempt to evade pursuing officers.

As the high speed chase neared Princeton, the suspect traveled into the westbound lanes, forcing oncoming cars to take evasive action. Both pursuing police officers immediately terminated the chase.

Moments later, the fleeing driver crashed.

The driver of a van said he and his wife were traveling from New Bern to Georgia when he was forced to swerve to avoid being hit head-on. He said that he and his wife are lucky to be alive. “The man was heading right for us!”

The suspect and one driver were taken to an area hospital for treatment. None of the injuries were serious.

Hector Janiel Bones, 32, of Clearwater Drive, Smithfield is facing numerous charges including felony fleeing to elude arrest, reckless driving to endanger, two counts of failure to stop for a stop sign. He was given a $15,000 bond.