Published: September 05, 2008 09:08 am            

Police chase ends in arrest

Pursuit began in Laurel following traffic stop

By Brad Hicks / Staff Writer

A Knoxville, Tenn. man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly leading police on a high-speed pursuit that began after he was pulled over for driving too slow.

Officer Nathan Day with Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement stopped Justin T. Vineyard, 27, around the 44 mile marker on Interstate 75 North in Laurel County for driving too slowly on the interstate.

“He was basically stopped for going too slow on the interstate,” said Sgt. Mike Taylor with KVE.

Taylor said Vineyard was traveling around 40 miles-per-hour when he was pulled over by Day. According to Taylor, Day then approached the vehicle and asked for Vineyard’s license and insurance. Police say it was then that the seemingly routine traffic stop escalated and the pursuit began.

According to Taylor, speeds of the chase reached approximately 110 miles-per-hour and led into Madison County. By that time, other law enforcement agencies had become involved in the pursuit. Taylor said it was around the 84 mile marker that the pursuit came to an end.

“The pursuit went into Madison County where the Kentucky State Police used spike strips to disable the vehicle,” Taylor said.

The spike strips caused Vineyard’s vehicle to strike the middle concrete barrier. Vineyard was taken to Patty A. Clay Hospital in Richmond, where he was treated for minor injuries and released into police custody.

Vineyard faces a number of charges, including driving under the influence. Taylor said field sobriety tests could not be administered because of the injuries Vineyard suffered in the accident and lab results are still pending.

Aside from the DUI charge, Vineyard was also charged with speeding more than 26 miles-per-hour, driving too slow for traffic conditions, improper registration plate, no/expired registration receipt, failure to produce insurance card, failure of owner to maintain required insurance, reckless driving, first-degree fleeing or evading police, first-degree wanton endangerment, resisting arrest, first-degree persistent felony offender and failure to register transfer of a motor vehicle.

Vineyard is currently being lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.