Published: June 24, 2008 07:36 pm         

Rumble leads to speedy chase

Citations and injuries were an area teenager’s reward after he first took a Garvin County deputy on a high speed pursuit that came an abrupt end with his vehicle going head first into an accident west of Paoli.

The source of the early morning chase Sunday was Maysville resident Steven Albright, who had turned 18 years old just a couple of days earlier.

Albright was reported to be intoxicated when he took Deputy Chani Lewis on the pursuit stretching a couple of miles.

That came after the county sheriff’s office was contacted about a fight involving several individuals in a pasture northwest of the I-35 and state Highway 145 junction.

In fact, the reporting party claimed there were as many as 30 people in a pasture taking part in some sort of confrontation.

As Lewis was attempting to locate the pasture and people a black vehicle came from nowhere and slid sideways onto a gravel county road within site of the deputy.

Not knowing whether the driver was a suspect or the victim of an assault, Lewis turned his patrol car around and the chase was soon turned up a notch as the route quickly changed into a black-topped roadway.

“I got up to 100 and he was still leaving me,” Lewis said referring to the speed of the pursuit.

The triple-digit speed of the targeted vehicle and reckless style of driving by Albright appears to have led to a crash at the intersection of SH 145 and Randolf Road.

What the deputy didn’t see was the vehicle. What he did see was a big cloud of smoke and dust coming from the roadway.

It was quickly learned Albright’s vehicle had gone over a steep shoulder of the road and rolled an undisclosed number of times.

“I was amazed he was still alive with how banged up his car was,” Lewis said.

Albright, believed to be wearing seat belts, was found to be conscious but dazed.

With the odor of gasoline coming from the wrecked vehicle the deputy helped Albright move a safe distance away as paramedics and first-responders were contacted.

At one point Albright is reported to have apologized to Lewis for speeding away but claimed anger was the cause for his actions.

The extent of Albright’s injuries were not disclosed as he was later taken to Pauls Valley General Hospital.

Reports show he was cited by the deputy for attempting to elude an officer and driving under the influence of alcohol.

     

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