Man cleared of chase accusation
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on September 9, 2016 10:04 AM
Full Size
Thurman Ray Royal
Wayne County Sheriff's Office investigators have cleared Thurman Ray Royal in connection with a high-speed chase Wednesday night that involved a number of law enforcement vehicles.
All charges against Royal have been dropped, said Maj. Tom Effler today, and authorities are seeking the true driver of the car that sped away from a DWI checkpoint and ended up wrecked on Durham Lake Road.
Effler emphasized that Royal, 53, was not driving the car, as was initially reported by lawmen, and is not guilty of the charges that were initially levied against him.
The chase began when a Chevrolet Cruze turned and sped away from a checkpoint at the intersection of Center and Elm streets.
It took a number of twists and turns before the car wound up in a ditch on Durham Lake Road.