Race to ER sparks chase
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 18, 2005 1:52 PM
"She just panicked" was how one officer described the situation.
An unidentified woman was taking her grandson to Goldsboro for X-rays Monday, when he developed seizures from a fall on his head the day before, officers said.
The woman reached speeds of more than 100 mph in the northbound lanes of U.S. 117 before being stopped near the construction of an intersection for the new U.S. 117 bypass.
The woman ran through several red lights but was not charged, said Wayne County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Tom Flores, who pursued the driver and did not know her name.
Flores said he heard the siren of an ambulance behind him on U.S. 117 near O'Berry Road at Dudley.
"Then I saw a silver car blowing its horn with the flashers on and flicking lights," Flores said. "The car ran in front of the ambulance, causing them to stop. I figured she was going to the emergency room. I pulled out, turned on my blue lights as she was leaving and then called in a chase."
Flores said he followed the car at 105 mph to U.S. 117 Alternate, where the car slowed down and then followed it to Arrington Bridge Road, where a marked sheriff's car took over. Flores said the other deputy's car got in front of the car at the National Guard Armory, boxing the driver in, and she stopped.
Flores said the woman said she had taken her grandson, who was about 15, to a doctor in Mount Olive. The doctor ordered X-rays, and he developed seizures during the ride. He had fallen and hit his head Sunday night.
When she stopped, the grandson was placed in the ambulance and taken to the hospital. Flores said he made the woman follow him to the hospital.
"I didn't give her a ticket, but I chewed her out," Flores said.
Maj. Billy Anderson said the woman simply panicked.